A coalition of African and Caribbean states has submitted a formal demand for an apology and reparations for the transatlantic slave trade, sources confirm. The move, presented at a United Nations summit in New York, calls on former colonial powers to acknowledge historical crimes and commit to financial restitution. Documents obtained by this newsroom reveal a draft resolution that would establish a tribunal to assess damages.
'This is not about charity. It is about justice,' said a diplomat involved in the negotiations. The demand has been met with resistance from several European governments, who argue that the modern descendants of slave traders bear no responsibility.
But campaigners point to ongoing economic disparities rooted in centuries of exploitation. The resolution could be put to a vote within weeks, but its passage is uncertain. What is certain is that the money trail leads back to the same banks and institutions that profited from human cargo.
We have seen this playbook before. It ends with bodies buried in unmarked graves. Let's see who pays this time.