PPF calls for Reparations action on UN's Declaration of Transatlantic Slavery as gravest crime against humanity
The Pan-African Progressive Front (PPF) has welcomed what it describes as a historic decision by the United Nations General Assembly to formally declare the trafficking of enslaved Africans and the system of racialised chattel slavery as the gravest crime against humanity.
The resolution, passed on March 25, 2026, coincided with the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. According to the PPF, “the world has finally been compelled to look directly at the wound it has long refused to name.”
The group noted that for generations, the legacy of slavery has been downplayed while those who benefited from it continue to enjoy economic advantages built on the exploitation of African lives. It stressed that the declaration represents a significant step, but not a final victory.
The PPF commended the African Union for what it described as strong and united leadership in championing the resolution. It praised the Assembly of Heads of State and Government for demonstrating “what African unity looks like when it is purposeful and unafraid,” following deliberations at its 39th Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa in February this year.
Special mention was made of President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, who serves as the African Union Champion for Advancing the Cause of Justice and Reparations. The PPF highlighted his role in pushing the agenda from its introduction at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025 to its eventual adoption.
“President Mahama has conducted himself not merely as a head of state but as a servant of history,” the statement said.
The organisation also acknowledged the role of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), noting its longstanding advocacy for reparatory justice. It pointed to the establishment of the CARICOM Reparations Commission and its Ten-Point Plan as evidence of sustained commitment to the cause.
According to the PPF, the unity between Africa and the Caribbean represents a powerful moment of reconnection among descendants of enslaved Africans across the world.
The statement explained that the transatlantic slave trade forcibly removed more than 12 million Africans, describing it as a structured economic system that fuelled European industrialisation while leaving lasting damage on African societies.
While 123 countries voted in favour of the resolution, the PPF expressed concern over opposition and abstentions. It noted that the United States, Israel and Argentina voted against the resolution, while 52 countries abstained.
“Abstention in the face of historical crime is not neutrality. It is a choice, and history will record it as such,” the statement said.
Looking ahead, the PPF emphasised that the adoption of the resolution must lead to concrete action, particularly in advancing reparations. It called on African governments and citizens to transform the decision into a people-driven movement.
It urged the organisation of national reparations forums, stronger involvement of trade unions, active participation of youth and student groups, and the inclusion of women’s organisations in shaping reparatory policies.
The group also called for stronger collaboration between African nations and the diaspora, stressing that the push for justice must extend beyond diplomatic engagements to grassroots mobilisation.
Describing the resolution as a turning point, the PPF said it represents “a political and legal inflection point” achieved through sustained effort and collective demand.
“As President Mahama rightly declared, reparatory justice will not be handed to us. Like independence, it must be secured through unity and determination,” the statement noted.
It concluded by reaffirming solidarity with African states, Caribbean nations and people of African descent worldwide, insisting that the recognition of the crime must be followed by concrete steps towards justice.
“The debt is real. The evidence is irrefutable. The time for acknowledgement has arrived. The time for reckoning must follow without delay,” the statement added.
