Mudavadi calls for reparatory justice for Africa at Ghana conference

Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi. [Edward Kiplimo,Standard]

Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi has urged African nations to unite and seek compensation for the historical injustices inflicted by colonial powers.

Mudavadi, who is representing President William Ruto at the African Reparations Conference in Accra, Ghana, said the continent should explore different models of reparatory justice to ensure timely compensation.

 “As a people of African descent, we now have an inordinate opportunity to collectively craft effective strategies for building a united front through strengthening collaboration amongst African nations, the Africans in diaspora and other key stakeholders to advance the course for justice and reparations for Africans that are long overdue,” said Mudavadi.

He also called for the establishment of an African-Caribbean Joint Mechanism on Reparatory Justice to enhance cooperation among the affected parties.

During the event, Mudavadi paid tribute to the millions of Africans who were enslaved and exploited by the colonialists and who fought for the liberation and independence of their countries.

“I call upon each of us to cast our minds and hearts to the African men and women who, in their numbers, were seized from their homes and nations to endure the most vicious and dehumanizing conditions. They toiled in plantations and factories, wilted, and died to enrich the captors and their criminal associates,” he said.

The Prime Cabinet Secretary took the podium to praise the achievements and contributions of the African descendants who left in chains or were born by those heroes, saying they have become an inspiration to their countries of origin and the entire world.

“It is worth recalling that the African descendants who left in chains or were born by those heroes have today become an inspiration to their countries of origin and indeed the entire world. In leaders like Martin Luther King, WEB Dubois, Thurgood Marshall, Jesse Jackson, and many others, they produced a soaring moral and political leadership that has freed millions of the down-trodden and oppressed,” he said.

Mudavadi cited the case of Kenya, where thousands of Kenyans were executed, tortured, and abused by the colonial administration, adding that the country is working to ensure justice is served to the victims.

"In our case, thousands of Kenyans were executed, many subjected to untold torture and all forms of inhuman treatment and abuse at the hands of the colonial administration, and we are working to ensure justice is served to the victims,” he said.

He welcomed the establishment of an African Committee of Experts on Reparations, saying Kenya is ready to offer its expertise to ensure sustainable reparatory justice.

"Kenya avails itself to offer its expertise to ensure sustainable reparatory justice. In the spirit of togetherness, I urge all of us to work, invest, develop, and deal with global challenges together as one people. We must strive to speak in one voice because, together, we are strong and weak when divided,” he said.

The conference was officially inaugurated by the Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo.