The Acting Secretary-General of the Ethiopian National UNESCO Commission, Ato Alemu Getahun, confirmed that delegates used the summit to iron out a standardised, aggressive framework aimed at reclaiming the continent’s stolen wealth.
Alemu noted that many Western institutions show little interest in surrendering outright legal ownership. Instead, they frequently offer to return Africa’s sovereign heritage purely on a “temporary loan” or “custodial trustee” basis, a patronising condition that African policymakers are increasingly rejecting.
In response, African countries are hardening their stance. Leaders at the summit emphasised that Africa is no longer just demanding the physical return of its history but is also building a cohesive legal argument for financial compensation and reparations to account for decades of illicit exploitation.
To solidify this defence, a broader continental forum involving official representatives from all African nations will soon be convened to unify Africa’s legal and diplomatic strategy on the world stage.
Comment RM*:
- This striking formulation fits in with a more general trend in Africa and within the African Union for restitution and reparations.
- This trend has been also visible in the Caribbean for some time.
- See also what Open Restitution Africa writes about this.
