Overview
- African and allied delegations met in Algiers from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1 to advance an African Union agenda that seeks formal recognition, criminalization and redress for colonial-era abuses.
- Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf opened the meeting urging the legal and unequivocal criminalization of colonialism, fair compensation, and the return of stolen property, citing Algeria’s wartime experience under French rule.
- Namibia’s foreign minister said Africa aims to build a unified legal case to present at the United Nations, with an Algiers Declaration expected and an AU-appointed reference group beginning technical work.
- The push builds on AU actions earlier in 2025 to define colonization as a crime against humanity and to close gaps in international law, which outlaws slavery and apartheid but does not explicitly criminalize colonialism.
- No binding reparations mechanism or legal changes have been finalized, though pressure for artifact repatriation continues and France has acknowledged certain atrocities without issuing a comprehensive apology.