South Africa has backed a renewed push for reparations for slavery and colonialism, with President Cyril Ramaphosa arguing that former colonial powers should support Africa’s development through investment, restitution and economic redress.
In a weekly address published by the South African Presidency on May 4, 2026, Ramaphosa framed reparations not as symbolic gestures but as a practical pathway to tackle inequality, debt burdens and structural underdevelopment across the continent.
The intervention comes amid growing international momentum following a recent resolution by the United Nations General Assembly, which formally recognised the transatlantic slave trade and the racialised enslavement of Africans as crimes against humanity.
The debate over reparatory justice has intensified in recent months, with Africa Briefing previously reporting on Ghana’s diplomatic challenge to France after the landmark UN slavery vote.
That resolution has injected new urgency into a debate long considered politically sensitive and diplomatically complex. By aligning South Africa with calls for reparatory justice, Ramaphosa positions Africa’s largest industrial economy at the forefront of a shifting global conversation.
At the core of his argument is a simple proposition: the economic foundations of many former colonial powers were built on Africa’s exploitation, and meaningful redress must now reflect that reality.
‘Africa reparations debate gains traction’
The Africa reparations debate has gained renewed diplomatic traction as African governments increasingly connect historical injustice to present-day economic inequality.
Ramaphosa’s remarks emphasise that colonialism was not merely a political system but an economic project. He pointed to the extraction of natural resources, forced labour and the large-scale displacement of African populations as central drivers of European wealth accumulation.
Referencing the work of historian Walter Rodney, the president underscored that slavery and colonialism should be understood as systems of ‘social violence’ rather than conventional trade, with consequences that continue to shape Africa’s development trajectory.
The address also highlighted the looting of cultural artefacts and the exploitation of African labour in building industries and infrastructure abroad—issues that remain unresolved in ongoing restitution debates.
The issue of restitution has become increasingly prominent across the continent, particularly following efforts to return African cultural treasures from Western institutions, including the recent decision by a United States museum to return seven royal artefacts to Ghana’s Asante Kingdom.
Crucially, South Africa’s position moves beyond calls for apology towards concrete proposals. Ramaphosa outlined a framework where reparations would be aligned with Africa’s long-term development goals.
This includes:
- Increased foreign direct investment into African economies
- Expanded market access for African exports
- Technology and skills transfer
- The return of looted cultural artefacts
- Financial support to address sovereign debt and poverty
Rather than one-off payments, the emphasis is on sustained, structured investment capable of transforming economic outcomes across the continent.
This approach reflects a broader shift within African policymaking circles, where reparations are increasingly framed as instruments of economic justice rather than purely historical compensation.
Ramaphosa also called for a coordinated continental approach, signalling that fragmented national demands could weaken Africa’s bargaining position in global forums.
This aligns with growing discussions within the African Union around presenting a unified reparations framework, particularly as geopolitical tensions reshape relations between the Global North and Global South.
Africa Briefing previously examined these continental efforts in its report on calls for coordinated African leadership on reparations.
The president drew parallels with South Africa’s own Truth and Reconciliation process, arguing that acknowledgment must be followed by tangible corrective measures.
‘Geopolitics and the road ahead’
Despite renewed momentum, the reparations debate remains contentious. Critics in Western countries continue to argue that modern governments cannot be held accountable for historical actions, and that the passage of time complicates claims for compensation.
European governments and institutions have largely resisted formal reparations frameworks, arguing that legal responsibility across generations remains contested.
However, African leaders increasingly reject this argument, pointing instead to the enduring structural inequalities rooted in colonial systems.
Momentum around reparations has also intensified following pressure from African leaders at recent AU meetings, where governments demanded stronger international accountability, as previously reported by Africa Briefing.
By elevating the issue during Africa Month, South Africa is signalling that reparations will remain a central theme in its diplomatic and economic engagements.
As African governments increasingly connect reparations to trade, debt and development financing, the debate is shifting from historical symbolism towards material negotiations over Africa’s economic future.
