Africa-CARICOM Summit Strengthens Reparations Push and Transcontinental Ties

The Second Africa-CARICOM Summit, held September 6–7, 2025, in Addis Ababa, has been hailed as a pivotal moment in strengthening transcontinental solidarity between Africa and the Caribbean. Under the theme “Transcontinental Partnership in Pursuit of Reparatory Justice for Africans and People of African Descent,” the summit aligned with the African Union’s designation of 2025 as the “Year of Reparations.”

Heads of State and government from African Union (AU) and Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states gathered to advance a shared agenda centered on reparations for the enduring legacies of slavery and colonialism, while deepening cooperation in trade, investment, transport, culture, and diaspora engagement.

CARICOM Secretary-General Carla Barnett described the summit as a “homecoming” and a “tangible manifestation” of efforts to heal historical divides and reaffirm familial and cultural bonds forged through centuries of shared struggle.

The summit builds on growing momentum since the inaugural Africa-CARICOM meeting in 2021 and the signing of a 2024 Memorandum of Understanding to enhance collaboration in health, education, and economic development.

Rooted in Pan-African solidarity and reinforced through joint participation in multilateral forums – including the G77+China, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the OACPS – the renewed partnership underscores a unified front in advocating for global equity and restorative justice.

With reparations at the forefront, leaders called for concrete mechanisms to secure redress, promote development, and ensure intergenerational healing across African and Caribbean communities worldwide.