Ghana to host high-level consultative conference on reparative justice and restitution
via Lefaso.net2 min read
Accra, Ghana, will host a High-Level Consultative Conference from June 17 to 19, 2026, to discuss next steps following the UN resolution of March 25, 2026, which recognized the enslavement of Africans as the most serious crime against humanity. This conference aims to establish a post-resolution framework and will feature three specialized panels: an advisory panel on reparative justice, an expert panel on cultural property restitution, and a legal panel. An annual consultative forum is also planned to continue discussions and actions. France, as a former colonial power, intends to participate, with President Emmanuel Macron having recently used the term "reparations" in an official speech, signaling a potential shift in the French government's approach to colonial history. The conference offers a neutral ground for West African countries to discuss historical justice and reparative justice, including addressing neocolonial practices such as external financing of terrorism, inequitable economic contracts, and Western media disinformation. The Alliance of Sahel States AES is encouraged to use this platform to articulate their demands for reparations, uniting Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, and other African nations to form a strong front.
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