Outrage as African workers condemn UK stance on slavery reparations

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

A wave of outrage has trailed the United Kingdom’s position on slavery reparations, as African workers under the umbrella of the International Trade Union Confederation, ITUC-Africa, condemned comments by a British lawmaker opposing a United Nations resolution on the issue.

In an open letter addressed to UK Conservative MP for North West Essex, Kemi Badenoch, the organisation accused the British government of failing to fully acknowledge the enduring consequences of slavery and colonial exploitation on African economies and workers.

Signed on behalf of 18 million African workers in Lomé, Togo, ITUC-Africa General Secretary, Akhator Joel Odigie, in

the letter called on the UK to take a leadership role in advancing restitution and addressing historical injustices, rather than what it termed an indifferent stance.

According to the letter: “We write to you as African workers… to express our deep concern and unequivocal condemnation of your recent position opposing the United Nations resolution on slavery and reparations.

“Your argument—that the United Kingdom should have voted against the resolution… because it ‘led the fight to end slavery’—reflects a selective reading of history that fails to acknowledge the full continuum of exploitation that has shaped the relationship between Britain and Africa.”

ITUC-Africa stressed that while Britain played a role in abolishing the transatlantic slave trade, the end of slavery did not mark the end of exploitation, pointing instead to the era of colonial domination that followed.

According to the organisation, African lands, labour, and resources were systematically extracted under harsh conditions, laying the foundation for structural inequalities that persist across the continent today.

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

“These realities are not abstract; they translate into precarious work, suppressed wages, weakened public systems, and limited opportunities for millions of African workers,” the letter stated.

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.

“Reparations are not about punishment—they are about acknowledgement, repair, and transformation. They constitute a moral imperative for addressing historical injustices and their present-day consequences.”

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.

“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,” the statement added.

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

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