Catholic Bishops in Africa Meeting Other Faith, Civil Society Groups to Chart Way Forward after Historical Injustices

Nairobi, 27 February, 2025 / 10:00 PM

Top on the agenda for members of the Symposium of Episcopal Conference of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) who are engaging with other faith-based groups and ethical communities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is how to heal from the historical injustices the continent has suffered from.

The Catholic Bishops in Africa and Madagascar organized February 27-28 workshop in collaboration with the African Union (AU) Catholic Chaplaincy.

In a press release dated Wednesday, February 26, SECAM says that the two-day workshop held at the Kuriftu Resort African Village and the African Union Commission (AUC) in Addis Ababa aligns with the AU 2025 theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.”

The organizers say that the workshop will focus on historical injustices emanating from the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, slavery, and colonization. The workshop also seeks to promote healing and reparations for affected communities.

“For centuries, Africans and people of African descent have endured the consequences of historical injustices, including economic disenfranchisement, social marginalization, and psychological trauma,” they say.

In the statement that the SECAM Liaison Officer to the African Union, Fr. Stephen Okello, signed, the organizers say the legacies of slavery, colonization, apartheid, and genocide continue to impact many African communities even today.

They acknowledged the dire consequences of the legacies, saying, “The AU is dedicated to addressing these issues through comprehensive policies, advocacy, and global engagement.”

The organizers of the workshop laud Ghana for leading in the reparations movement to address some of the injustices emanating from the dark ages through some of the country’s initiatives like the 2019 “Year of Return.” 

“This workshop aims to build on such efforts by amplifying the voices of faith-based and ethical organizations in the pursuit of justice,” the organizers say in the statement in reference to Ghana’s initiatives.

The workshop is being organized in collaboration with several key partners, including Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL); the Pan African Conference on Ethics and Bioethics (COPAB); the Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD-Africa); and the United Religions Initiative (URI).

The workshop, which brings together AU officials, diplomats, religious leaders, scholars, human rights advocates, and policymakers to advance the AU’s reparations agenda, has also been organized in collaboration with the Citizens and Diaspora Directorate (CIDO) of AUC.

According to the February 26 press release, the two-day event will feature a diverse program, including keynote addresses, panel discussions, and faith-based perspectives on reparations.

The first day of the event will commence with a keynote address, followed by panel discussions featuring perspectives from African Traditional Religion, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, as well as insights from diaspora and global faith leaders.

SECAM and partners said in the press release that a special session will focus on the ethical and moral imperatives of reparations, with contributions from HWPL, URI, All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), CIDO, and SECAM.

“An open forum will provide participants an opportunity for dialogue and policy recommendations, concluding with a dinner hosted by SECAM for all attendees,” they said.

On the second day, the event, set to take place at the AUC, will feature presentations on transgenerational trauma, genocide, and peace-building initiatives in Africa. Additionally, discussions will focus on economic reparations, including microfinancing opportunities.

“International perspectives on advancing justice through reparations will also be explored,” they say, and add, “The event will conclude with the signing and presentation of the Addis Ababa Declaration on Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations, followed by closing remarks and commitments from participating organizations.”

By the conclusion of the two-day event, SECAM and its partners aim to have fostered greater awareness of reparative justice among faith communities and the wider public.

Through the workshop, they also aim “to establish a coalition of faith-based and ethical organizations dedicated to this cause and to develop policy recommendations and an action roadmap in partnership with the African Union.”

In addition, the workshop will culminate in the development of a formal commitment document endorsing the AU’s 2025 reparations theme.

“This workshop underscores the essential role of faith and ethical communities in shaping public opinion, influencing policy, and fostering reconciliation,” the organizers say.

They add, “By collaborating with the AU and global stakeholders, these organizations can play a transformative role in advancing justice and restitution for Africans and people of African descent.”