CISA
ADDIS ABABA, MARCH 5, 2025 (CISA) – In a landmark gathering, faith-based, ethical, and interfaith organisations from across Africa and the diaspora convened in Addis Ababa February from 27 to 28, 2025, to address the urgent need for reparative justice. The event, themed “The Role of Faith Communities and Ethical Organizations in Advancing Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations,” was hosted at the Kuriftu Resort African Village and the African Union Commission (AUC), bringing together approximately 100 participants, including high-level officials, religious leaders, scholars, and human rights advocates.
The workshop was organised by SECAM (Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar), the African Union Catholic Chaplaincy, HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light), COPAB (Pan African Conference on Ethics and Bioethics), IAPD-Africa (Interreligious Association for Peace and Development), URI (United Religions Initiative), and other key partners. The event reinforced the African Union’s 2025 theme dedicated to reparations for Africans and people of African descent, highlighting the moral and legal imperatives of justice.
High-Level Addresses and Key Speakers
The workshop featured a distinguished lineup of speakers, both in-person and online, ensuring broad participation in this historic dialogue.
Dr Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, delivered the welcome address, reaffirming the AU’s commitment to justice for Africans and people of African descent. Dr Rita Bissoonauth, Director of the UNESCO Liaison Office to the African Union and Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), set the tone with a keynote address that underscored the historical and moral imperative of reparations. Dr.Robert Afriye, the Ambassador of Ghana, emphasised his country’s leadership in the global reparations movement, while Ms Angela Naa Afoley Odai, Head of the Diaspora Division at the AU’s Citizens and Diaspora Directorate (CIDO), outlined the AU’s 2025 theme and its role in advancing the reparations agenda.
Fr Dr Louison Emerick Bissila Mbila, AU Catholic Chaplain, delivered opening remarks, stressing the moral responsibility of faith communities in championing justice. Ambassador Mussie Hailu, Global Envoy of the United Religions Initiative (URI), called for a unified interfaith approach to restorative justice based on the Golden Rule: “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” Imboni uZwi-Lezwe Dr Radebe, representing IAPD-Africa, offered a perspective on reparative justice from African Indigenous Spirituality. Dr Aharon Mor presented a Jewish viewpoint on reparations, while His Eminence Cardinal Berhaneyesus D. Souraphiel, representing SECAM’s President, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, reflected on the theme in the context of the Jubilee Year 2025. Dr Hassan Kinyua Omari, from the Muslim Professionals League Africa, shared an Islamic perspective on the quest for justice.
The workshop also featured online and in-person presentations by experts in economic and environmental justice. Ms Kyung Hee Kim of HWPL explored reparations from an Asian perspective. From the United States, Dr Glenda Phillips Lee, speaking via Zoom on behalf of IGHC/AACLA, discussed economic reparations through housing and land grants. Mr Ambrose King of the Ethiopian World Federation examined repatriation from the diaspora as a key aspect of restorative justice. Bishop Dennis Nthumbi, representing the African American Clergy Leaders Association, addressed the subject of reparative justice for Christians in Africa.
The psychological and ecological dimensions of reparations were also examined. Drawing on the Rwandan experience of the genocide against the Tutsi, Dr Théogène Bangwanubusa delivered a thought-provoking presentation on genocide and transgenerational trauma. Mr Moses Chasieh of the American Friends Service Committee introduced the Salama Hub Program, which aims to support justice initiatives. Ms Ashley Kitisya of the Laudato Si’ Movement highlighted ecological debt, arguing that environmental destruction caused by colonial exploitation should be considered an integral part of the reparations discourse.
Panel Discussions and Key Outcomes
Panel discussions provided a dynamic platform for participants to engage in in-depth exchanges on key aspects of reparations, including economic redress, historical accountability, and faith-based approaches to justice. These discussions allowed speakers and attendees—both in person and online—to contribute diverse perspectives on the need for reparative justice. The hybrid format of the event enabled remote participants to actively engage in discussions through virtual presentations and interactive Q&A sessions, enriching the dialogue with global perspectives.
A key outcome of the workshop was the presentation and signing of the Addis Ababa Declaration on Reparations, which affirms the legal and moral imperative of reparations and calls for concrete actions, including:
- The establishment of an AU Committee of Experts on Reparations to develop an African-led framework for restorative justice.
- The appointment of an AU Special Envoy on Reparations to advocate for African and diaspora reparations at a global level.
- The recognition of ecological debt as part of the reparations discourse, acknowledging the environmental damage caused by colonial-era exploitation.
- A proposal for the African Union to consider declaring a Decade of Reparations to sustain momentum on this cause.
The declaration emphasises the role of faith communities in promoting peace, reconciliation, and reparative justice, aligning with Africa’s Agenda 2063 for a prosperous and united continent.
Towards Implementation and Global Action
As the conference concluded, speakers emphasised that the adoption of the Addis Ababa Declaration on Reparations is only the beginning. The organising bodies committed to continued engagement with the African Union, UNESCO, the Government of Ghana, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), policymakers, global institutions, and grassroots movements to translate resolutions into action. Participants were urged to remain steadfast in their advocacy and to collaborate in ensuring that justice for Africans and people of African descent becomes a global priority.
The workshop underscored that reparations are not just about financial compensation but about acknowledging historical truths, fostering reconciliation, and creating pathways for economic and social empowerment. As faith and ethical communities take the lead, the world watches to see whether these calls for justice will be met with meaningful action.
