Lula Endorses Ghana’s UN Reparations Resolution | DISCUSS

In a major diplomatic boost for the African Union (AU), Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has officially endorsed Ghana’s push to have the trans-Atlantic slave trade recognized as a "crime against humanity".

The endorsement occurred on Saturday, March 21, 2026, during the 10th CELAC Summit and the 1st CELAC–Africa High-Level Forum in Bogotá, Colombia. Brazil’s support aligns the largest economy in South America with the reparations agenda championed by President John Dramani Mahama.

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Lula’s Message: "A Matter of Global Justice"

President Lula framed Brazil’s support as both a historical and geopolitical necessity:

Solidarity with Africa: Lula emphasized that Brazil, as the country with the largest African diaspora outside of Africa, has a "constitutional and moral duty" to support reparatory justice.

Historical Recognition: He backed the AU’s position that the systemic nature and brutality of the slave trade warrant formal recognition as the "gravest crime in history".

Global South Unity: Lula noted that closer ties between the 55 AU member states and the 33 CELAC members are essential for a more "balanced and inclusive international order".

The Ablakwa Vision: Beyond Financial Claims

Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, clarified that the resolution—set for a UN General Assembly vote on March 25, 2026—is about more than money:

Accountability First: Ablakwa stressed that the primary goal is historical truth-telling and accountability. "This is about justice, healing, and closure, not just financial compensation," he stated during his recent diplomatic tour.

Addressing Inequality: The Minister argued that recognizing these historical crimes is a prerequisite for understanding modern structural inequalities, such as debt imbalances and climate vulnerability in the Global South.

A "Decade of Action": He noted that the UN vote will officially kick off the Decade of Reparations (2026–2036), a period dedicated to cultural restitution and long-term restorative policies.

UN General Assembly Vote: March 25, 2026

The resolution will be tabled on a date that coincides with the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery:

The Coalition: The resolution is backed by a "super-coalition" of the AU, CARICOM, and now key CELAC members like Brazil and Colombia.

The Opposition: While the Global South is united, Western European nations—led by former colonial powers—are expected to provide significant resistance to the language regarding "crimes against humanity".

The "Champion": President John Dramani Mahama will personally present the draft, having spent the last year refining the legal and moral arguments as the AU Champion for Reparations.

"Reparatory justice will not be handed to us. Like political independence, it must be asserted, pursued, and secured through unity." — President John Dramani Mahama.