In a historic session today, Wednesday, March 25, 2026, the UN General Assembly passed the landmark resolution spearheaded by Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama.
The motion, which was adopted by the African Union (AU) earlier this year, formally declares the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans as the “gravest crime against humanity.”
The resolution represents a massive shift in the global discourse on reparatory justice:
The 193-member body passed the resolution with 123 votes in favor.
Only 3 members, Argentina, Israel, and the United States voted against it.
There were 52 abstentions, primarily from several European nations.
While General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, this creates a significant moral and political framework for future international law and bilateral negotiations.
President Mahama, acting as the AU Champion for Reparations, outlined that the goal is to move from mere acknowledgment to a structured dialogue on repair. The resolution emphasizes:
Calling for “concrete steps” to remedy historical wrongs, including financial and developmental redress.
Urging the “prompt and unhindered” return of cultural artifacts, artworks, and national archives to their countries of origin at no cost.
Supporting the AU’s declaration of 2026–2035 as the Decade of Action on Reparations.
In his address to the Assembly, Mahama noted that this is not about “assigning collective guilt to present generations” but about taking responsibility for a system that “deliberately structured today’s global inequalities.” This victory is seen as a culmination of the Accra Proclamation of 2023 and a major win for the Africa-Caribbean coalition.
