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African Union to Host Symposium on Reparations for Justice in 2025

“A Vital Symposium to Foster Collaboration and Action on Reparations as Declared for the 2025 AU Theme of the Year”
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Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The African Union (AU) is set to convene a pivotal symposium focused on the theme of “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations.” Scheduled for 9 a.m. EAT at the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa, this event serves as a significant precursor to the AU Summit, providing a dynamic platform for engagement among various stakeholders.

This symposium, organized by the Economic Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) in collaboration with AMANI Africa, Ethiopian CSOs Council, FEMNET, Reform Initiatives, Pan-African Lawyers Union, Trust Africa, Tax Justice Network-Africa, and Stop the Bleeding Campaign, aims to address historical injustices stemming from colonization, trans-Atlantic slavery, and systemic discrimination. These issues have perpetuated global inequality and stunted Africa’s development over the years.

The 2025 declaration by AU Heads of State, made during the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly in February 2023, underscores the urgency of the reparations agenda. Emphasizing a collective call for unity among Africans and the diaspora, the initiative seeks to tackle not only historical grievances but ongoing issues related to systemic racism and economic exclusion in the modern era.Despite the significance of this declaration, the path towards its implementation is fraught with challenges.

Misunderstandings regarding the agenda’s objectives and the insufficient collaboration among institutions could hinder meaningful progress. Hence, this symposium is tailored to galvanize active participation from civil society organizations (CSOs), Regional Economic Communities (RECs), government entities, and the African diaspora.

Key objectives of the symposium include the presentation of the concept note and roadmap for the 2025 theme, a comprehensive understanding of both the theme’s scope and strategies, and the establishment of collaborative mechanisms among involved stakeholders.

The event will facilitate crucial dialogues to identify challenges and solutions, empowering grassroots advocacy for reparative justice to emerge powerfully. With its ambitious agenda, the symposium heralds a crucial step towards addressing past injustices and laying the foundation for a more equitable future.

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Abel Mavura is a journalist, editor, and writer whose work explores the intersections of cities, migration, and social justice. He tells stories about how people move, survive, and remake urban life under conditions of precarity, drawing on close field engagement and lived experience. Trained as a journalist at the Christian College of Southern Africa, Abel’s early work was rooted in media practice and community storytelling. Over time, his focus expanded into research and critical inquiry, allowing his writing to move fluidly between reportage, analysis, and long-form reflection. He is a graduate of Sciences Po Paris and is currently pursuing research at the University of Cambridge, where his work builds on earlier research into migration and informal housing. Abel is the author of three books, and his writing has appeared across platforms ranging from grassroots and community radio to international and policy-facing spaces. His work is grounded in clarity, ethical storytelling, and a commitment to centring voices often left out of mainstream narratives.

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