African candidates push for reparations in Commonwealth leadership bid

Three candidates from African nations, including Ghana, Lesotho, and The Gambia, are vying for the position of secretary general of the Commonwealth. During a debate at Chatham House in London, they advocated for reparations for countries impacted by slavery and colonialism. This call for reparative justice has gained momentum since the global Black Lives Matter protests following George Floyd's murder in 2020, prompting a reevaluation of historical injustices by various governments and institutions. Shirley Botchwey, Ghana's foreign minister, emphasized the importance of financial reparations, while Joshua Setipa from Lesotho expressed his commitment to engaging in the reparations discussion without delay. He highlighted the Commonwealth's historical role in addressing complex issues, referencing its involvement in ending racial discrimination in Zimbabwe and South Africa. Mamadou Tangara, The Gambia's foreign minister, echoed the sentiment for reparatory justice, suggesting that the Commonwealth could leverage its influence to facilitate necessary dialogues. The Commonwealth, which comprises 56 member states, primarily former British colonies, has a collective population of 2.7 billion and has evolved from the remnants of the British Empire. The candidates dismissed claims that the Commonwealth is merely a colonial relic, asserting that member countries have chosen to remain part of this organization to advocate for pressing issues like climate change and youth unemployment. The leadership election is scheduled to occur during the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Samoa from October 21 to 26.