“IF WE do not approach the problem in African from a common front and a common purpose, we shall be haggling and wrangling among ourselves until we are colonialised again and become the tolls of a far greater colonialism than we suffered hitherto.” These were the words of the sage, Kwame Nkrumah, in his book: I Speak of Freedom: A Statement of African Ideology, published in 1961.
After several years, the Organisation of African Unity, now African Union, is yet to achieve the vision of its founding fathers. Nkrumah’s statement above emphasises the importance of African unity and collective action in addressing the continent’s challenges. Unfortunately, his vision remains unfulfilled.
While I agree that the idea of reparatory justice and social healing are noble and hold great prospects for restoration of our dignity, humanity and lost values, I think that the process should begin from home.
The colony of our patriots seem to be depleting at a very fast rate. Since the formation of OAU in 1963, and its transformation in 2002 to AU, it was clear to the world that those who understood where the organisation was originally headed have all exited leaving behind political chaffs and jobbers.
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Nkrumah’s generation did not get the opportunity to groom leaders that would have seamlessly carried on the pan-African dream. Either overtly or covertly, the West sponsored military coups to destabilise and frustrate development in Africa. External powers have often influenced or interfered in African conflicts, fuelling them for their own interests or ideological agendas. Ethnic rivalry for control of resources and political power, were encouraged by the West, knowing that an unsettled African continent will be more susceptible to neo-colonial manipulation.
International Studies’ experts have poignantly observed that many conflicts in Africa since independence have been driven by factors such as resource control, power struggles and ethnic or regional interests, rather than ideological differences or developmental issues.
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Conflicts in countries like Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone have been fuelled by the desire to control valuable natural resources. Nigeria’s Niger Delta region has experienced and continue to experience tensions and violence over oil revenue and resource control. Disputes over land ownership, access to water resources, and border demarcations have led to conflicts in countries like Ethiopia, Eritrea, and South Sudan. Western influences are deeply-rooted in all these crises.
According to UN reports, an estimated $50 billion to $90 billion leave Africa annually through illicit financial flows, which are funds hidden abroad by leaders and considered to be stolen from the continent, significantly impacting potential development and infrastructure projects within Africa. The amount of money leaving Africa through illicit financial flows is substantial, representing a significant portion of the continent’s GDP. These funds could be used to improve healthcare, education, and infrastructure in African nations. Often, these funds are deposited in offshore accounts in tax havens in Europe and North America, making it difficult to track and recover.
Looking back with deep reflections, Africans are worried about the future of their continent. As the heads of state gather in Ethiopia this February 2025, most of them with huge ethical luggage and character deficits that have weakened regional institutions. Most of these leaders who emerged through questionable circumstances and are responsible for Persistent conflicts, and instability in various regions of Africa, have ulterior motives in government. They divert attention and resources away from collective development and cooperation.
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African leaders, especially the corrupt ones, will always have the support of Western powers like France, America, United Kingdom, Canada and the rest, because their countries’ looted funds are held and managed for them by nations who try to make us believe they are best examples of human beings. The absence of charismatic leaders with a clear vision for African unity and development has contributed to the slow progress toward achieving Nkrumah’s ideals. Those on the stage now, are aware that they are completely disconnected from the vision of Pan-Africanism. How can a Pan-Africanist steal his or her country’s money and bank it in Europe or America and expect that he or she will be taken serious on the issue of reparation?
The theme for the 38th African Union (AU) Summit will interestingly focus on reparatory justice and racial healing. Heads of State and Government will launch the AU’s theme of the Year for 2025, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations,” during the Summit.
While I agree that the idea of reparatory justice and social healing are noble and hold great prospects for restoration of our dignity, humanity and lost values, I think that the process should begin from home.
Chances are high that the reparations will be embezzled and taken back to Western banks just like World Bank loans and other interventions from Bretton Woods institutions are stolen. African leaders should demonstrate seriousness in tackling corruption, show transparency and accountability in governance. No Western nation will take us seriously the way we carry on.
According to UN reports, an estimated $50 billion to $90 billion leave Africa annually through illicit financial flows, which are funds hidden abroad by leaders and considered to be stolen from the continent, significantly impacting potential development and infrastructure projects within Africa. The amount of money leaving Africa through illicit financial flows is substantial, representing a significant portion of the continent’s GDP. These funds could be used to improve healthcare, education, and infrastructure in African nations. Often, these funds are deposited in offshore accounts in tax havens in Europe and North America, making it difficult to track and recover.
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It will be difficult to give exact monetary value of resources all seven European brothers stole and still stealing from Africa. For more than five hundred years, beginning in 1503, when the first batch of slaves left Africa on the proclamation orders of King of Spain to the abolition of slavery in 1835 in both Americas and Europe to the new era of colonisation, then to neo-colonisation, resources stolen will only be in guess figures, because it is too much to quantify; too stupendous to calculate and too much to estimate; other than to say, the resources run into hundreds of trillions of dollars.
Even more nauseating is the continued mindless plundering of the African economic resources by African leaders who emerged as pseudo-champions of de-colonisation era. Reparatory justice, as advocated by African leaders, is only seeking for compensation, restitution, and acknowledgment of the historical injustices and atrocities inflicted upon Africa and its people during the periods of colonisation, slavery, and other forms of exploitation. It is not looking at what African leaders have stolen and are still stealing in the past 60 years.
All the money stolen by African leaders are kept for them by the nations they are asking to pay reparations. This sounds laughable considering the criminal conspiratorial relationship between them and our leaders.
Chances are high that the reparations will be embezzled and taken back to Western banks just like World Bank loans and other interventions from Bretton Woods institutions are stolen. African leaders should demonstrate seriousness in tackling corruption, show transparency and accountability in governance. No Western nation will take us seriously the way we carry on.
While the concept of reparatory justice is gaining traction, its implementation remains a complex and contentious issue, with debates surrounding the feasibility, scope, and beneficiaries of reparation.
