African Union commission chair honors victims of transatlantic slave trade
On the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, African Union Commission Chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf paid tribute on March 25 to the millions of Africans torn from their homelands. In an official message, he recalled the memory of the men, women and children subjected to inhuman treatment and stripped of their fundamental rights during one of the darkest chapters in world history.
For the Pan-African institution’s leader, the transatlantic slave trade cannot be relegated to a mere tragedy of the past.
He emphasized that it constitutes a structural injustice whose legacies continue to profoundly affect African societies and their diasporas.
Faced with this painful heritage, Youssouf stressed the imperative of preserving collective memory and strengthening commitment to justice, equality and human dignity.
The AUC chair called for increased mobilization of the international community to address the lasting consequences of slavery, particularly in economic, social and cultural spheres.
He highlighted the fundamental role of education, remembrance and dialogue in combating racism, discrimination and all forms of intolerance; tools he deemed essential for building more just and inclusive societies.
Reaffirming the position of the African Union, Youssouf underscored the commitment of the institution to a global reparative justice agenda; an approach aligned with the continent’s priorities and the aspirations of its peoples and the African diaspora.
He noted that acknowledging past wrongs and repairing the harm suffered are indispensable steps toward healing still-open wounds.
On this day of reflection, the African Union Commission chair also saw a powerful reminder of the extraordinary resilience of African peoples; a resilience that, despite the most extreme trials, has preserved an unshakeable identity, culture and dignity.
He called for continued mobilization worldwide to defend the values of dignity, justice and solidarity.
Titi KEITA
