Algiers – Africans must unite in their efforts to criminalize colonialism, stated Bankole Adeoye, the African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, on Sunday.
Speaking at the opening of the International Conference on Colonial Crimes in Africa, held at the Abdelatif Rahal International Conference Center in Algiers, Commissioner Adeoye emphasized the need to strengthen African unity and involve the African diaspora in the pursuit of criminalizing colonialism.
He advocated for a unified African stance to protect the continent’s resources and cultural heritage. “It is important to strengthen the ongoing transformations in the continent for a stronger Africa,” he said, calling for the inclusion of Caribbean populations in the AU’s quest for justice, given their history of slavery and colonialism.
Adeoye expressed his gratitude to Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune for proposing the historic conference, which he said provides an opportunity for the AU to reaffirm its commitment to justice and the criminalization of colonialism, and to unite the voices of nations that have suffered under colonial rule.
The AU will continue to defend the territorial integrity of nations and fight for the restoration of historical truth, recognizing colonialism as a crime against humanity, Adeoye stated. He noted that the priority is to ensure the recognition of colonial crimes, the forced displacement of African populations, and slavery as crimes against humanity, and to secure justice for victims and their descendants.
Echoing this sentiment, Eric Phillips, representing the Caribbean region, highlighted the severe impact of colonialism and colonial crimes perpetrated by France, the United States, and Great Britain on the region. He asserted that former colonizers must acknowledge their wrongdoings. He further suggested that the countries in the region should benefit from technology transfer and debt relief as reparations.
Phillips likened the slavery endured by African peoples to a “nuclear bomb,” characterizing it as “the first nuclear bomb in history.”
