Facing the Past, Shaping the Future: Five Essential Actions for Justice and Reparations in Africa by 2025
OMCT Policy paper
As the African Union convenes its 2025 Summit under the theme "Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations,"the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and its SOT-Torture network, call upon African heads of state to address one of the most enduring legacies of colonial rule: the persistence of torture and ill-treatment across the continent.
While the quest for reparations from former colonial powers is a crucial step towards justice, it is equally imperative for African states to confront and dismantle the colonial structures that continue to shape governance, law enforcement, and judicial practices today.
The use of torture, arbitrary detention, and excessive force by security forces are not merely remnants of the past; they are symptoms of a system that has yet to fully decolonize. The endurance of these practices, from authoritarian crackdowns on dissent to the inhumane treatment of migrants and detainees, highlights the urgent need for African governments to take responsibility for the rehabilitation of victims and the reform of institutions that perpetuate these injustices.
OMCT firmly believes that Africa must obtain reparations for past crimes, including slavery, colonialism, and apartheid, which have left lasting economic and political scars on the continent. Many of these past crimes continue to shape unjust international structures that perpetuate poverty, fuel violence, and enable systemic human rights violations, including torture and ill-treatment. The call for reparations is not merely a plea from the oppressed but a demand for fairness and equity, acknowledging the historical injustices that have disadvantaged African nations and people of African descent for centuries.
States that emerged from the brutal legacy of colonialism often perpetuate systemic violence against their own citizens unless they actively confront and dismantle the entrenched structures and cultures of repression inherited from the colonial era. The persistence of torture, enforced disappearances, and police brutality in post-colonial states can be understood as an extension of the coercive mechanisms originally designed to subjugate and control populations under colonial rule.
The African Union’s 2025 theme is a significant step in shifting the global agenda, allowing those who have historically been dominated to shape international cooperation and the development agenda. Reparatory justice must not be seen as a cry for sympathy but as a fundamental call for restructuring global economic and political systems in a way that acknowledges past wrongs and fosters genuine partnership. Addressing these issues is essential for combatting systemic racism, ensuring dignity, and healing historical wounds, ultimately contributing to the prevention of torture and human rights violations in Africa.