Africa needs to roll out second decolonization initiative – President of Cape Verde
President José Maria Pereira Neves of the Republic of Cabo Verde has revealed that, as a continent, Africa needs to roll out a second decolonization – a mental decolonization that frees its societies from dependence on neocolonial narratives.
“This new decolonization must courageously face the challenges of the present: hate speech, anti-immigration policies, the resurgence of xenophobic, racist, and supremacist ideologies, and the persecutions that threaten to repeat the darkest episodes in the history of mankind.
“We still rely on stories that do not belong to us, narratives that subjugate us, and systems that perpetuate inequality,” President Neves stated at the opening of the 2025 Judicial Year of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Arusha, Tanzania under the theme “Advancing Justice through Reparations.”
In a statement, President Neves, who was the special guest of honour, noted that rather than putting ourselves to an attitude of lamentation, it is imperative to put Africa first, with dignity.
He stressed that it implies that African resources are to be put to the service of Africans, suggesting that regional institutions such as the African Union are reformed and strengthened and electoral processes normalized to ensure stability and representativeness.
“African leaders have a responsibility to act with vision and resolve, promoting a new attitude that values sovereignty, good governance, and the mobilization of domestic resources for sustainable development and the dignity of the human person.
“Reparational justice, in turn, must be an unavoidable priority. Structures such as the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights symbolize the continent's commitment to justice and reconciliation, but they must be fully operationalized and endowed with the necessary resources to address the atrocities of the past and promote confidence in the future,” the President of Cabo Verde stated.
President Neves continued, “I am convinced that the best reparation is mental decolonization. Without it, it will not be possible to transform the legacy of oppression into collective strength and emancipation.
“As Ghana's former President Nana Addo Akufo-Addo put it, " It is time for Africa – whose sons and daughters had their freedoms controlled and were sold into slavery – to also receive reparations."
The President of Cabo Verde asserted, “Now is the time for action. Reparations for Africa mean ensuring that the suffering of past generations becomes a transformative force.
“It means enabling every African, child or adult, to live on a continent that honours its past and moves forward with determination toward the future. It is also a call to humanity, for in the reparation of Africa lies the possibility of a fairer, more solidary, and more dignified world for all.”
President Neves was emphatic that as “we proceed, let us be guided by the principles of ubuntu – the belief in a universal bond that connects all humanity. Our pursuit of justice should be seasoned with wisdom.”
He said "our demand for accountability should be balanced with compassion, and our vision for the future should be rooted in the strength of our shared history. May this judicial year be marked by bold steps towards justice. May our deliberations lead to action plans that bring us closer to the realization of reparations."
“And may our collective efforts lead to a future where historical injustices are acknowledged, addressed, and healed,” he emphasized.
President Neves noted that the process requires not only the active solidarity of the countries that benefitted from the slave trade but also the responsibility of Africans themselves to lead the transformation of their future.
Lady Justice Imani Daud Aboud, President of the African Court, explained that this year’s theme, “Advancing Justice through Reparations,” aligned with the African Union's 2025 theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations.”
She said the AU’s theme resonates deeply with the African Court’s shared history, the ongoing struggles for justice, and aspirations for a brighter future.
“It compels us to confront the enduring legacies of historical injustices and to embrace reparations as a critical pathway to justice, healing, and the restoration of dignity for Africans and people of African descent,” the African Court President stated.
Lady Justice Aboud explained that the African Court's selection of the theme was deliberate and timely.
She said the scars of history—slavery, colonialism, apartheid, systemic racism, and economic exploitation—remain painfully visible across our continent.
“These injustices are not relegated to the past; their insidious effects continue to manifest in social inequalities, economic disparities, and the erosion of cultural heritage that persist to this day.
“Reparations are far more than mere financial compensation. They represent a fundamental form of justice, a necessary means of addressing the moral, social, and economic debts incurred as a result of historical and systemic injustices,” the President of the African Court stated.