Colonialism: African Nations Move Towards Joint Reparation Claim Against Britain, France

African nations were intensifying efforts to file a joint reparation claim against the United Kingdom, France, Belgium and other former colonial powers for alleged atrocities committed during the colonial era.

Nigeria, regarded as a regional heavyweight, is taking a prominent role in the campaign, pushing for financial compensation, debt relief, formal apologies, and the return of stolen artefacts.

The movement gained significant traction at a high-level conference in Algiers, where policymakers gathered to convert long-standing principles into actionable steps.

The meeting, which focused on ensuring colonial-era crimes were “recognised, criminalised and addressed through reparations”, was a direct development from a resolution adopted earlier this year by the African Union (AU).

Speaking at the conference, Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf said Algeria’s painful experience under French colonial rule underscores the urgent need to seek compensation and reclaim looted property. A clear legal framework, he added, would ensure that restitution is viewed as “neither a gift nor a favour.”

“Africa is entitled to demand the official and explicit recognition of the crimes committed against its peoples during the colonial period, an indispensable first step toward addressing the consequences of that era, for which African countries and peoples continue to pay a heavy price in terms of exclusion, marginalisation and backwardness,” Attaf said.

The AU resolution demanded justice and reparations for victims of colonialism, building on a groundbreaking proposal at the Union’s February summit to define colonisation as a crime against humanity and establish a unified continental position.

The momentum for a collective African stance was foreshadowed in September when Nigeria’s Senator Ned Nwoko submitted an official claim to the British government, seeking $5 trillion in reparations for the impacts of colonial rule. Although a national initiative, it set a significant precedent and served as a reference point for ongoing continental discussions.

The British government has consistently dismissed such demands. Officials in London have previously described calls for colonial reparations as “astonishingly hypocritical,” insisting that the UK values its modern partnerships with African nations and will not engage with historical accusations within a legal or reparative context.

Nonetheless, support for reparations is growing in global public opinion. A new documentary, “From Slavery to Bond,” has intensified scrutiny of the British Empire’s legacy, examining how colonial policies—from resource extraction to arbitrary borders and cultural dispossession—created the foundations of many contemporary African crises. The film has added new academic and moral weight to Africa’s claims.

Analysts argue that a joint AU-led demand would carry significantly more geopolitical and legal weight than isolated national efforts, potentially presenting a substantial diplomatic challenge to the UK and other former colonial powers.

The next phase of the continental initiative is expected to include developing a shared historical interpretation, finalising the legal strategy, and defining the structure, timeline, and valuation of the reparations demand.

Although the path to any financial settlement remains complex and uncertain, the continent’s coordinated effort, however, marked a transformative moment in Africa’s pursuit of historical justice and accountability.