Summit in Algeria on colonialism: toward historic reparations in Africa
Algeria is preparing to host a major international conference on crimes of colonialism in Africa from 30 November to 1 December 2025.
SUMMARY
Held in Algiers, the event will bring together ministers, jurists, historians, academics and experts to discuss historical injustices and propose mechanisms for reparations.
Under the theme “Justice for Africans and people of African descent through reparations”, the conference falls under the African Union’s 2025 theme.
Objectives of the summit
The summit on crimes of colonialism in Africa aims to:
- Examine the recognition (and criminalization) of colonialism, slavery, racial segregation and apartheid as crimes against humanity.
- Discuss reparations: return of cultural artifacts, economic compensation, recognition of intergenerational trauma.
- Assess the environmental consequences of colonialism, notably pollution related to nuclear testing.
- Adopt the Declaration of Algiers, a document intended to lay the foundations for an African framework for historical justice.
The initiative comes from Algeria, supported by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who defends the collective memory and dignity of African peoples victimized by colonial oppression.
The “Declaration of Algiers”, which will be submitted to the African Union at the February 2026 summit, aims to institutionalize an African reparations mechanism.
This summit could mark a decisive step in the pursuit of historical justice in Africa, transforming memory-related discussions into legal and institutional commitments.
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