Thanks to Trump, it is now in Europe’s self-interest to compensate Africa for slavery

A man looks out to sea from a commemorative building known locally as ‘The Tunnel’ near the ‘Point of No Return’ where enslaved people were shipped from the port at Badagry, Nigeria, 21 June 2019. Photograph: Afolabi Sotunde/Reuters

Imagine this: a continent scarred by centuries of violence and exploitation, now standing united to demand justice. This weekend, the African Union (AU) is kicking off its annual summit with a bold, historic declaration: 2025 will be the year of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations. This marks the first time in its history that the AU has placed reparations front and centre.

At first, you might wonder: is this really the right moment? Former colonial powers have shown little interest in addressing their past, and global leaders like the US president, Donald Trump, are actively dismantling international institutions. But maybe this is exactly the right moment for Africa to demand accountability, and for Europe’s democracies to finally offer a meaningful response. As the world grapples with shifting power dynamics, Africa’s call for justice is more urgent than ever.