Fury erupts as African laborers denounce Britain's position on compensation for slave trade legacy

African workers, united under the International Trade Union Confederation, ITUC-Africa, have expressed outrage over the United Kingdom's stance on slavery reparations, condemning comments made by British lawmaker Kemi Badenoch that opposed a United Nations resolution on the issue.

n

In a strongly worded open letter to Kemi Badenoch, the UK Conservative MP for North West Essex, ITUC-Africa accused the British government of failing to fully acknowledge the lasting impact of slavery and colonial exploitation on African economies and workers.

n

Signed on behalf of 18 million African workers in Lomé, Togo, ITUC-Africa General Secretary Akhator Joel Odigie called on the UK to take a leadership role in advancing restitution and addressing historical injustices, rather than maintaining an indifferent stance.

n

The letter expressed deep concern and condemnation of Kemi Badenoch's recent position opposing the United Nations resolution on slavery and reparations, stating that her argument reflects a selective reading of history that fails to acknowledge the full continuum of exploitation between Britain and Africa.

n

ITUC-Africa highlighted that while Britain played a role in abolishing the transatlantic slave trade, the end of slavery did not mark the end of exploitation, but rather paved the way for the era of colonial domination that followed.

n

The organisation pointed out that African lands, labour, and resources were systematically extracted under harsh conditions during the colonial era, laying the foundation for structural inequalities that persist across the continent today.

n

ITUC-Africa argued that the legacy of exploitation continues in modern times through neo-colonial economic systems, including unfair trade arrangements, debt dependency, and the marginalisation of African economies in global governance.

n

These realities, the letter stated, translate into precarious work, suppressed wages, weakened public systems, and limited opportunities for millions of African workers.

n

The organisation described the dismissal of reparations as an unjust burden on taxpayers as both troubling and regrettable, insisting that reparations are a matter of moral responsibility rather than punishment.

n

According to ITUC-Africa, reparations are about acknowledgement, repair, and transformation, and constitute a moral imperative for addressing historical injustices and their present-day consequences.

n

The group also criticised the UK's abstention from the UN vote, describing it as disappointing and inconsistent with the country's professed commitment to human rights.

n

ITUC-Africa stated that if the United Kingdom played a role in ending slavery, then it should have been among the first to proudly support a resolution aimed at ensuring that such crimes against humanity are never repeated.

n

The organisation stressed that while history cannot be rewritten, its consequences must be acknowledged and addressed as part of a genuine commitment to justice and equality.