Pan-African Parliament Champions Voices at 2nd Africa-CARICOM Summit in Addis Ababa

Under the leadership of H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira, President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), the organization’s delegation played a prominent role at the Second Africa-CARICOM Summit, held at the African Union Commission on 6–7 September 2025.

Summit Theme and Significance

The summit convened under the powerful theme: “Transcontinental Partnership in Pursuit of Reparatory Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.” This theme underscored the shared history and future of Africa, the Caribbean, and the global African diaspora.

It was hosted by the Ethiopian government, in partnership with the African Union Commission and the CARICOM Secretariat, marking a milestone in legislative diplomacy, inter-regional integration, and diaspora engagement.

Landscape of Participation

The summit drew a high-level assembly of dignitaries, including:

·       Heads of Government from both AU and CARICOM member states

·       Leaders from global institutions such as the UN Secretary-General, the World Bank, IMF, Afreximbank, and others

·       Representatives from UNECA, ECOSOCC, diaspora and civil society groups, and regional bodies.

PAP’s Contributions and Vision

In his address, H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira affirmed PAP's readiness to offer legislative support and amplify the voices of Africans and people of African descent in the collective pursuit of reparatory justice and sustainable development. He hailed the summit as a turning point in forging a unified transcontinental partnership.

This engagement reflects PAP’s ongoing commitment to reparations, aligned with its broader continental advocacy efforts. Earlier in 2025, PAP intensified its call for legislative frameworks promoting acknowledgement, restitution, and redress for historical injustices such as slavery and colonialism.

Key Outcomes of the Summit

The summit concluded with several landmark agreements, including:

1.     The adoption of the Addis Ababa Declaration on Reparatory Justice for Africans and People of African Descent.

2.     An expanded institutional cooperation under the AU–CARICOM MoU, encompassing trade, education, culture, technology, and crisis response.

3.     Shared calls for increased investment in infrastructure, technology, and innovation to foster economic cooperation.

4.     Advocacy for reform of the UN Security Council and the international financial system to improve equity for Africa and the Caribbean.

5.     Reaffirmed commitments to climate justice, sustainable development, peace, and security.

These outcomes reflect a strategic framework to deepen transcontinental integration, reflecting the momentum built since the inaugural summit held virtually in 2021.

Moreover, Morocco’s delegation highlighted the Royal Atlantic Initiative - a bold South-South cooperation project aimed at granting landlocked African states access to the Atlantic, symbolizing mutually beneficial integration.

Africa-CARICOM Day and PAP’s Broader Agenda

September 7 has carried growing significance as Africa-CARICOM Day, commemorating the 2021 inaugural summit hosted by Kenya and celebrating deepening bonds between the two regions.

PAP’s involvement at this summit dovetails with its ongoing advocacy for reparatory justice, particularly notable after:

·       Co-creating the 2023 Global Reparation Fund, a joint AU–CARICOM initiative aimed at coordinating reparations efforts.

·       Formalizing an MoU with the State of the African Diaspora (SOAD) to institutionalize reparatory dialogue, culminating in collaborative summits, recognition of diaspora contributions, and the establishment of a SOAD office within PAP.

These moves reinforce PAP’s strategic role as a legislative voice for African citizens both on the continent and in the diaspora.

Looking Ahead

·       Institutionalizing Reparation Mechanisms: The Addis Ababa Declaration and AU–CARICOM MoU provide a concrete platform for shaping transcontinental reparatory frameworks.

·       Legislative Advocacy: PAP is positioned to shepherd the implementation of reparatory justice through legislation across African parliaments.

·       Global Reform Agenda: Calls for global systemic reform strengthen the push for meaningful international engagement and partnership.

·       Sustainable Partnership Models: Initiatives like the Royal Atlantic Initiative exemplify how shared infrastructure and trade can fuel mutual prosperity.

The 2nd Africa-CARICOM Summit in Addis Ababa was a defining moment: anchored by PAP’s leadership, it advanced a unified agenda for reparatory justice, integration, and shared development between Africa, the Caribbean, and the diaspora. By placing citizens at the heart of the reparations movement and reinforcing robust institutional cooperation, the summit charted a bold, collaborative path for the future.