logo
Rising populism should not stop discussions on reparations, says African Union official

Rising populism should not stop discussions on reparations, says African Union official

Reuters08-04-2025
LONDON, April 8 (Reuters) - The rise of right-wing populism in Europe and elsewhere should not prevent Africa from bringing reparations for transatlantic slavery and colonialism to the table, the head of the African Union's (AU) diaspora division said.
"There is no better time as this to discuss the issue of reparations as Africans ... irrespective of the various issues going on that may seem intimidating," the official, Angela Naa Afoley Odai, told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday.
Others, including the president of the African island nation of Cape Verde, Jose Maria Neves, previously said the growth of right-wing populism has made it difficult to hold a serious debate over reparations.
Neves said debating the issue in the "public arena" could potentially lead to more political polarisation in European countries formerly involved in slavery and colonialism, such as Portugal, France and Britain.
While the issue of reparations has gained momentum worldwide, so has the backlash. U.S. President Donald Trump has said he "doesn't see it happening," and many of Europe's leaders have opposed even talking about reparations.
African leaders launched a new push for reparations in February, and say they will set out their own plan of what reparations may look like, from financial compensation and formal acknowledgement of past wrongs to policy reforms.
The AU said in a statement that reparations could involve "diplomatic pressure or legal actions at international courts".
Afoley Odai said diplomatic pressure would stem from the work the AU was doing, including with the Caribbean, to "build a united front" involving both those who live on the continent and the African diaspora.
She said ongoing links between the African Union and the European Union, from summits to partnerships, would be used to push for reparations.
Opponents of reparations argue, among other things, that contemporary states and institutions should not be held responsible for their past.
But advocates say action is needed to address the legacy of slavery and colonialism, such as systemic and structural racism, and say that contemporary states still benefit from the wealth generated by hundreds of years of exploitation.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ties that bind us to Europe
Ties that bind us to Europe

Scotsman

time2 hours ago

  • Scotsman

Ties that bind us to Europe

An anti-Brexit pro-Scottish independence activist holds a flag mixing the EU flag and the Scottish Saltire A new poll has underlined what many in Scotland already know. If we choose independence, Europe is ready to welcome us back. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The YouGov survey, conducted across France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Denmark, shows clear support for an independent Scotland joining the European Union. In each country polled, support for Scottish membership ranged from 63 to 75 per cent. It is a reminder that Scotland's values, outlook and aspirations continue to align with our European neighbours. Despite Westminster's hard Brexit and Labour's refusal to revisit EU alignment, there is another way forward. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The same survey found that more people across the UK support Scottish EU membership than oppose it. While Westminster continues to ignore the damage of Brexit, other countries see the benefits of EU membership and the cost of being outside it. Brexit has harmed our economy, undermined our public services and taken opportunities away from young people. Scotland did not vote for it, yet we are living with the consequences every day. That damage is not abstract. It means rising food prices, falling investment, and fewer chances for students, workers and researchers to engage with Europe. We are seeing the real effects in communities across Scotland. Edinburgh is one of the most pro-Europe cities in the UK and the SNP is the only party serious about rejoining the EU. As we move forward to the 2026 election, voters will want to ask which party pursues the path to strengthen ties with our European partners and in time, restore our place as an equal partner in the European Union.

The problem of striking a defence deal with the EU
The problem of striking a defence deal with the EU

Spectator

time3 hours ago

  • Spectator

The problem of striking a defence deal with the EU

The UK-EU summit in London in May at which a new relationship between the parties was agreed seems a long time ago now. In fact, it is barely eight weeks, but we live in a world which has supercharged Harold Wilson's mordant dictum that 'a week is a long time in politics'. They seem like aeons now. One major subject at the summit was the EU's financial instrument Security Action for Europe (Safe). This is a fund of €150 billion (£130 billion) which will provide loans for member states to undertake urgent, large-scale defence procurement projects, with the aim of addressing capability gaps and boosting the European defence industry's production capacity. However, Brussels makes clear that 'beneficiary member states will have to carry out, in principle, common procurements involving at least two participating countries to qualify for the loans'. It is now clear that the UK will need to pay a fee to participate in this scheme. The amount has not yet been fixed, but EU diplomats reason that 'since British businesses would receive EU money to create jobs and expand capacity under the scheme, London should recompense Brussels'. France is said to be pushing for a significant contribution, while others, including Germany, are keen not to set the tariff so high that the UK does not participate at all. This should come as no surprise. The prima facie terms of the Safe scheme, initially excluding the US and the UK (between them home to ten of the world's twenty biggest defence contractors), left French and German manufacturers like Thales, Rheinmetall and KNDS at the head of the queue to benefit from new spending. Thales and KNDS, as well as Naval Group and Safran, are, as it happens, part-owned by the French state. In these circumstances, the question of who benefits was not a particularly challenging one. Surely this wasn't supposed to happen? At the summit in May, Sir Keir Starmer said that the UK-EU agreement would 'open the door to working with the EU's new defence fund – providing new opportunities for our defence industry, supporting British jobs and livelihoods'. That was, I argued at the time, one of the main motivating factors behind the agreement. After all, the rules for Safe make it clear: Safe will also allow acceding countries, candidate countries, potential candidates and countries that have signed a security and defence partnership with the EU, such as the United Kingdom, to join common procurements. Alas, there was a brief cautionary note that Britain's participation would be 'subject to a separate negotiation and conditions, including a financial contribution from the UK'. The European Commission's spokesman for defence, Thomas Regnier, told the Financial Times that, under the terms of the agreement, UK-based companies could provide up to 35 per cent of the value of procurement through Safe, but going beyond that would depend on 'an agreement with the EU on the precise modalities on aspects such as budget contribution and security of supply'. This was inevitable. The EU is a fundamentally protectionist organisation which seeks to gain as much advantage as possible for the economies of its member states. That is not a criticism, merely an observation: but it has highlighted the disadvantages of pursuing defence policy through the EU, of which we are not a member, rather than Nato, a dedicated military alliance of which we have been part for more than 75 years. (It is true the overlap between the EU and Nato is not complete: although acting through the latter would include the US, Canada and Turkey, it would exclude the military superpowers of Austria, Ireland, Malta and Cyprus.) The Cabinet Office has offered bland, reality-defying reassurance: 'It is in all our interests for the UK and EU to bring together our unique capabilities and expertise to make Europe a safer, more secure, and more prosperous place'. Indeed so, but perhaps that is a message better directed towards the French government, while there still is one. There have been pious expressions of hope that 'parochial national interests' do not undermine Safe's potential to contribute to Europe's overall security. But this is the EU, the bare-knuckle fight club of national interests. It has weak defence institutions but strong ambitions to accrete more competencies to the centre. And the hard-edged realpolitik of Brussels is showing the relative emptiness of the clutch of bilateral agreements Starmer has concluded. There is a clear choice. What is Europe's overriding priority: building the continent's defence capabilities or strengthening national defence industrial bases? The rules governing Safe effectively choose the latter; that is a matter for member states. But perhaps the British government should not have so eagerly chased a mechanism that was bound to work to our disadvantage. The Strategic Defence Review set out a 'Nato First' policy – perhaps we should have focused more closely on that mantra.

Popular EU country with 8.7m tourists a year hit with stark FCDO warning
Popular EU country with 8.7m tourists a year hit with stark FCDO warning

Daily Mirror

time3 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

Popular EU country with 8.7m tourists a year hit with stark FCDO warning

Despite witnessing soaring visitor numbers in recent years, a 'beautiful' European hotspot has been stung with an FCDO warning following its dystopian political direction Brits have been warned about travelling to an increasingly popular European hotspot, following concerning new legislation. Last year, a whopping 8.7 million international tourists flocked to Hungary - lured in by the country's dark history, stunning architecture, and cheap booze. ‌ Many holidaymakers will have headed straight to Budapest, Hungary's capital, renowned for its huge thermal spas, underground bars, and plethora of cultural attractions (including the only McDonald's in the world that transforms itself into a nightclub). Here, you'll find the fairy-tale complex of Fisherman's Bastion, the spectacular St Stephen's Basilica, and the powerful Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial. ‌ ‌ Acclaimed for its low-cost food and beverages, Hungary has become increasingly popular amongst Brits with a slew of major UK airports flying directly to the country - including Bristol, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, London Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. However, on Thursday, July 17, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office updated its advice for LGBT+ travellers, under its 'safety and security' page. The warning comes after tens of thousands defied Hungary's dystopian ban on Pride - spearheaded by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's swiftly implemented law that makes it an offence to hold or attend events that involve the 'depiction or promotion' of homosexuality to minors. While same-sex sexual activity is legal, and Budapest is known for its openness and liberal tolerance - showing affection in public outside the capital could result in 'unwanted attention'. "Hungary has passed legislation allowing the banning of rallies and marches that depict or promote LGBT+ identities to minors," the FCDO states. ‌ "Participants could be identified by facial recognition technology and face fines of up to 200,000 Hungarian Forints (approximately £433.71). The Hungarian government classified Budapest Pride 2025 as illegal under this legislation." While the Pride event has officially ended, Brits travelling to Budapest over the summer period should be aware of changing attitudes towards LGBT+ people, and the risk that public affection may garner outside of the tourist-riddled capital. ‌ The FCDO also warns that tourists in Hungary can often be targets for 'petty crime', including bag-snatching and pickpocketing. This is more likely to occur in busy places like on public transport, in train stations, at markets, or bustling attractions. "Some bars, clubs and restaurants might charge high amounts for food and drink," the body added. "Tourists have been taken to cashpoints with demands for the money to pay the bill. Always ask to see the menu and price list before ordering food and check your bill carefully before paying." There have also been reports of drinks being spiked, particularly in Budapest's bars. Travellers are therefore advised to always buy their own alcoholic drinks and make sure to 'keep sight of them' at all times.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store