Ethiopia has taken a leading role in a significant two-day international conference aimed at advancing the movement to criminalize colonialism, directly supporting the African Union's powerful theme for the year: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparation.”
This high-level participation follows the African Union (AU) General Assembly’s resolution to officially pursue the criminalization of colonialism, marking a critical step toward addressing historical injustices.
Ambassador Hirut Zemene, Ethiopia’s Permanent Representative to the African Union and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), is heading the Ethiopian delegation, representing the Minister of Foreign Affairs. She is joined by Ambassador Muktar Mohamed, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Algeria.
The conference, hosted by Algeria under the compelling theme “Towards Redressing Historical Injustices Through the Criminalization of Colonialism,” has drawn an influential assembly of global figures, including ministers of foreign affairs from multiple nations, ambassadors of African states serving on the AU Peace and Security Council, representatives from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and last but not least, Ambassador Bankole, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, representing the AU Chairperson.
The event also features crucial input from African historians and international law experts from Africa, the Caribbean, and beyond, ensuring a robust, scholarly foundation for the discussions.
Over the two days, participants are holding intense discussions on the vast array of humanitarian, social, economic, and political crimes committed against Africans and people of African descent during the colonial era. The sessions frequently reference the Addis Ababa African–CARICOM Declaration, a landmark document issued during the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of African and Caribbean nations.
The conference is expected to conclude today with the issuance of a formal communiqué, outlining the path forward for the criminalization effort and the quest for comprehensive reparations.
