African and Caribbean nations have issued a formal demand for an apology from Britain over its historical role in the transatlantic slave trade, as Commonwealth leaders gather for reparations talks. The call, led by a coalition of Caribbean nations including Barbados and Jamaica, has placed the UK at the centre of a growing movement for restorative justice. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, attending the summit in Samoa, has so far stopped short of issuing a full apology, offering instead an expression of 'deep regret' for the 'pain and suffering' caused. But for many in the room, regret is not enough.
The demand for a formal apology comes amid a broader reckoning with colonial history. This month, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) reparations commission submitted a formal request to the UK government, seeking not just an apology but also discussions on debt cancellation, financial investment in education and healthcare, and the return of cultural artefacts. The commission argues that the economic legacy of slavery has left the region with systemic poverty, health inequalities and loss of identity.
For the families of Manchester and Liverpool, cities built on the profits of the slave trade, the debate is not abstract. The National Trust estimates that nearly 100 historic properties in Britain have direct links to colonial slavery. In Liverpool, the International Slavery Museum has become a site of reflection. Local campaigners say that while a formal apology would be 'a step in the right direction', it must be accompanied by concrete changes. 'My great-grandfather was sold from Ghana to work on a sugar plantation in Jamaica. My father came to Britain in the 1950s to rebuild after the war. We are still fighting for equal pay, decent housing and respect,' said Maureen Johnson, a community organiser in Moss Side. 'Words are cheap. We need action.'
The British government has resisted a full apology, citing legal concerns over potential compensation claims. Downing Street has instead highlighted the UK's aid budget and investments in Caribbean infrastructure. But critics argue that aid is not the same as reparations and that the UK continues to benefit from the wealth generated by slavery. A 2020 report by the University of the West Indies estimated that Britain owes the Caribbean over £200 billion in reparations.
The pressure is unlikely to fade. Caribbean nations are already pursuing legal cases and lobbying the United Nations. Meanwhile, the Commonwealth, once a symbol of British imperial unity, is being reshaped by calls for racial justice. As the talks continue, the question is not just whether Britain will apologise, but whether it is ready to make amends.
