On the final day of their royal visit to Australia and Samoa, King Charles III and Queen Camilla participated in a farewell ceremony in the village of Siumu, Samoa. Representatives from 56 nations gathered in Samoa starting on the 21st for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Countries from Africa and the Caribbean have been increasingly vocal in demanding that the UK take responsibility for its role in the transatlantic slave trade, calling for reparations or at least political acknowledgment.
During the summit on the 25th, King Charles III emphasized the need for the Commonwealth to confront its “painful” history. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak appears willing to make concessions to these Commonwealth nations, but he has no intention of offering financial reparations, instead considering “non-monetary” options.
Charles stated, “Through listening to voices from across the Commonwealth, I have understood how the most painful aspects of our past continue to resonate. Therefore, it is crucial to understand our history, as it can guide us to make the right choices in the future.”
According to reports from Central News Agency, calls for the UK to compensate for the transatlantic slave trade have a long history, but there has been a recent surge of momentum, particularly among the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the African Union.
Those opposing reparations argue that nations should not be held responsible for historical wrongs, whereas supporters contend that the legacy of slavery has resulted in pervasive and enduring racial inequalities today.
On the 21st, Sunak told the BBC that the UK would listen to the countries wishing to address this issue at the summit but ruled out the possibility of apologizing for its historical role in the trade.
The Daily Telegraph reported that, faced with demands from Commonwealth nations for reparations potentially totaling up to £18 trillion (around $23.3 trillion), Sunak has rejected economic compensation but is considering options such as debt relief, support for public health initiatives, and preferential educational programs for students from Commonwealth countries.
Frederick Mitchell, the Bahamas’ Foreign Minister, mentioned to the BBC on the 24th that segments calling for discussions on reparations would be included in the draft conclusions expected to be released on the 26th.
Patricia Scotland, a British diplomat and lawyer originally from the Dominican Republic, and the Commonwealth Secretary-General, noted during the summit, “We have demonstrated an unparalleled ability to confront this painful history, which is precisely what has allowed us to sit together as equals for the past 75 years.”
From the 15th to the 19th centuries, at least 12.5 million Africans were forcibly taken by European ships and traders and sold into slavery. Those who survived the brutal voyages ultimately labored under inhumane conditions in the Americas, while others profited from their toil.
