PAP President Charumbira Leads Africa’s Call for Reparatory Justice at Algiers Conference on Colonial Crimes

The Pan-African Parliament President, H.E. Chief Fortune Zephaniah Charumbira, has called for Africa to reclaim its identity, decolonize its mindset, and unite in the fight for reparatory justice. He made the call for African identity, unity, and reparatory justice at the International Conference on Crimes of Colonialism in Africa, held in Algiers. The conference, aligned with the AU’s 2025 Theme on Reparations gathers AU organs, ministers, jurists, and scholars to chart a continental pathway for historical justice.

The International Conference on Crimes of Colonialism in Africa has positioned Africa on a renewed trajectory toward historical justice and reparations. Convened by the Government of Algeria in collaboration with the African Union Commission, the conference brought together AU organs, ministers, jurists, historians, academics, and diaspora leaders for a high-level conversation on the legacy of colonial domination.

Central to the conference’s opening was an address by H.E. Chief Fortune Zephaniah Charumbira, who urged African states to reclaim their cultural identity, decolonise their education systems, and unite in the fight for reparatory justice.

“Africa Must Reclaim Its Selfhood”: Charumbira’s Rallying Cry

Speaking before a diverse gathering of policymakers and experts, Chief Charumbira delivered what many participants described as one of the most decisive continental messages on the meaning of decolonization in the 21st century.

He warned that colonialism’s most enduring and devastating legacy was the erosion of African identity and the imposition of a worldview that conditioned Africans to see Western culture as superior:

“Culture is the glue that binds us together and without our culture we are disunited and directionless.”

According to the PAP President, the decimation of African value systems has left many societies stranded in cycles of dependency, lacking the cultural confidence required for sustainable development.

He argued that heritage-based education, as adopted in Zimbabwe, offers a replicable model for restoring African self-belief, strengthening indigenous knowledge, and supporting the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Unless Africa shifts its mindset, he cautioned, it will continue to import not only goods but assumptions, values, and worldviews.

Reparatory Justice: A Battle Africa Must Fight United

A major highlight of Charumbira’s address was his direct and uncompromising call for Africa to intensify its pursuit of reparatory justice.

He warned that former colonial powers remain unwilling to acknowledge or compensate for the atrocities committed on the continent:

“The erstwhile colonisers were unwilling to compensate Africa for the injustices perpetrated by colonialism.”

Using Zimbabwe’s land reform experience as an example, Charumbira noted that African nations must brace for political resistance and economic pressure but remain steadfast in reclaiming their dignity and resources.

He stressed: “If Africa is not united, the fight will be in vain.”

This message aligned strongly with the broader purpose of the conference, which aims to consolidate a unified African position on reparations, restitution of looted artifacts, and the legal recognition of colonialism as a crime against humanity.

Context: A Conference that Resonates with the AU’s 2025 Theme

The Algiers conference was convened under the African Union’s 2025 theme:
“Justice for Africa and People of African Descent Through Reparations.”

Sessions examined:

·       The codification of colonial crimes;

·       The continuing economic, social, and cultural impact of colonial rule;

·       Environmental harms, including toxic waste dumping and resource plunder;

·       Restitution of cultural artifacts and historical archives;

·       Legal pathways for reparatory justice at national, regional, and international levels.

The gathering served as a crucial preparatory platform ahead of the February 2026 AU Summit, where the expected Algiers Declaration will likely be tabled for adoption.

Algiers as a Symbol of Resistance and Renewal

Algeria’s role as host was both symbolic and strategic. As one of the countries that endured some of the most brutal forms of colonial violence and later waged a globally recognized liberation struggle, its capital offered a fitting backdrop for Africa’s continental reckoning with its past.

The conference also underscored Algeria’s emerging leadership in continental dialogues on reparations and decolonization, complementing its historical commitment to anti-colonial solidarity.

PAP’s Expanding Role in Africa’s Historical Justice Agenda

The prominence of Chief Charumbira’s message reflects the growing influence of the Pan-African Parliament in shaping Africa’s governance and justice discourse.

By anchoring debates in cultural selfhood, education reform, and continental solidarity, the PAP President positioned the Parliament as a central actor in Africa’s reparatory justice movement. His speech signalled PAP’s readiness to champion cross-continental initiatives that restore African dignity, assert sovereignty, and advance reparations through law, diplomacy, and public mobilization.

A Continental Turning Point

The Algiers Conference on Colonial Crimes marks a defining moment in Africa’s long pursuit of historical justice. With strong leadership from PAP and renewed commitment across AU institutions, Africa is laying the groundwork for a more unified, assertive, and principled engagement with its colonial past.

The next steps including the anticipated Algiers Declaration, will shape Africa’s collective reparations agenda for years to come.

AfricanParliamentaryNews.com will continue to provide in-depth coverage, expert commentary, and institutional analysis as the continent advances this long-overdue conversation.