H.E. Professor Robert DUSSEY, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Togolese Abroad, chaired, on September 23, 2025 in New York, on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, a high-level event as part of the decade 2021-2031: “Decade of African Roots and African Diaspora” and the preparations for the 9th Pan-African Congress in Lomé 2025, on the theme: “The United Nations 80 years later: Accelerating the Reform Agenda and Strengthening the Momentum Towards Justice and Reparations”.
Co-organized by Togo and the African Union Commission (AUC), this meeting is part of the current debate on ways and means of rethinking the existing structures of multilateral organizations and accelerating the processes leading to restorative justice for the historical injustices suffered by Africa.
In addition to Prof. DUSSEY, this high-level event was also attended by H.E. Mahmoud Ali YOUSSOUF, Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. Tété Antonio, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Angola, Chairperson of the AU Executive Council, H.E. Samuel Okudzeto ABLAKWA, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ghana, representatives of AU Member States, Germany, Portugal, Russia, ECOSOC, civil society, diaspora organizations and Afro-descendants.
During the opening ceremony, H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Ali YOUSSOUF, Chairperson of the AU Commission, praised the exemplary role of Togo and Ghana in preserving memory and promoting courageous dialogue on issues that concern all of humanity, namely justice, reparations and the reform of global governance.
According to him, the issue of restorative justice is not about dwelling on the pain of the past but rather about building a better future by rebalancing the international order. Therefore, this issue is not limited to material reparations but must extend to investments in health, education, infrastructure, technology, etc., and to reforming global governance for greater inclusivity.
For H.E. Mr. Tété Antonio, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Angola, Chairperson of the AU Executive Council, the UN has played a crucial role in promoting peace, protecting human rights…and implementing initiatives…to support sustainable development. However, the world continues to face significant challenges…such as historical injustices that require a strong and firm response.
The eight decades of existence of the United Nations bear witness to the importance of this organization in promoting peace, stability and development, but also highlight the need for structural reforms to better reflect the diversity and aspirations of peoples, by strengthening justice, accelerating institutional reforms and facilitating reparations for past injustices.
Africa, as a continent of resilience and hope, embodies this need for restorative justice. Acknowledging past injustices, particularly through concrete actions for reparations, is an essential step towards establishing lasting peace and social cohesion.
In his speech, H.E. Mr. Samuel Okudzeto ABLAKWA, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ghana, highlighted the urgent need for reforms to the multilateral system, which he described as unbalanced. In this regard, H.E. Mr. ABLAKWA welcomed the upcoming 9th Pan-African Congress in Lomé, which provides a good opportunity for Africa to pave the way for restorative justice.
He proposed three urgent actions to be taken in the contemporary context of geopolitical change to achieve reparation, namely: reform of the UN, strengthening ties in favor of reparation and the creation of bridges and solidarity between the AU and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) through a united dynamic. He ended his speech by calling for the acceleration of reforms through concrete and urgent actions at the risk of accentuating injustices.
Their speeches were followed by two presentations. The first, given by Ambassador Amr ALJOWAILY, Director of Citizen and Diaspora Organizations (CIDO), focused on the theme: “Reforms and Restorative Justice: What Roadmap?”
Ambassador ALJOWAILY recalled the missions assigned in the roadmap contained in the AU’s 2025 theme: “Justice for Africans and people of African descent through reparations”. He then indicated that reparations are an AU commitment aimed at restoring dignity, healing historical wounds, returning cultural property and redressing the historical injustices suffered by Africans and people of African descent due to slavery, colonization and apartheid. He finally described the process and mandates to achieve reparations and mentioned the launch of the financing architecture for the consequences of the Atlantic slave trade and the burden of colonization. He urged the establishment of a common mechanism or an African common position on the issue of reparations.
The second presentation, entitled “Towards the 9th Pan-African Congress in Lomé 2025: Communication and Announcements”, was made by Mr. Afognon Kouakou SEDAMINOU, Coordinator of the Diaspora Desk at the Togolese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Togolese Abroad. He recalled the context, objectives and specificities of the said congress, the holding of the six regional preparatory conferences for the 9th Pan-African Congress as well as the practical arrangements that are part of the organization of the Congress. The coordinator also reassured the participants of the Togolese government’s commitment to making the 9th Pan-African Congress a truly inclusive and successful event.
These presentations were followed by enriching discussions. Representatives from Germany and Russia, for example, expressed their support for the African struggle for justice and reparation.
During the closing ceremony, H.E. Ms. Selma Malika HADDADI, Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission, noted the determination and momentum of Africans and people of African descent for justice and reparation. She praised the crucial role played by Togo in this regard, which initiated the historic decision of the Heads of State and Government of February 16, 2025 on the “qualification of slavery, deportation and colonization as crimes against humanity and genocide against the peoples of Africa,” called for accelerating the reform agenda of multilateral institutions and urged massive participation in the 9th Pan-African Congress in Lomé.
H.E. Prof. Robert DUSSEY expressed his sincere thanks to the participants for their strong mobilization at the meeting and invited them to take part massively in the 9th Pan-African Congress in Lomé 2025.
