Transatlantic Slave Trade: When justice is not right

In March 2026, 123 UN member states voted for the AU motion to condemn the Transatlantic Slave Trade as the worst humanitarian crisis in history. Five countries voted against, while 53 countries, including the EU, abstained from the vote.

In the EU, the decision was nothing but a footnote in public media outlets. For example, the German media did not take much notice of the decision, which was made by governments, not by the people of the countries they represent. Mentioning the motion to German academics, only experts on African affairs have taken notice and discussed it in broader detail. The overwhelming majority of Germans and Europeans have never heard of the motion and its consequences: the demand for reparation.

The African Union members are busy meeting and discussing the issue of reparation and how to justify their demand and grievances. The standards and data to go by to come up with a certain amount to be asked for are highly debated among African leaders. Meanwhile, Germans and Europeans are content, having long forgotten about the footnote rushed through the media landscape. They have no interest in knowing what goes on in Africa behind their backs, not being prepared in any way to pay reparations asked for.

In whatever time to come, the AU will eventually come up with an exact financial demand. And governments must respond on the grounds of values, guilt, responsibility and most of all financial compensation. The taxpayers would probably be asked to pay a bill they never had a say in in the first place. To them is like steaks and peas and pies were ordered by the waiter without the guest having asked for it. Before Western governments negotiate anything along the Transatlantic Slave Trade, the affected people of these countries must have their say in a referendum, as it touches the core values of humanity, their national identity and history as much as their money purse.

Anything other than this is justice done not right.

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