Nigeria, alongside Ghana and over 120 other countries, has supported a United Nations resolution recognising the transatlantic slave trade as one of the most severe crimes against humanity and calling for reparative justice.
The resolution, led by Ghana, secured 123 votes in favour at the UN, while Argentina, Israel, and the United States opposed it. A total of 52 countries abstained from the vote.
The adoption coincides with the Second International Decade for People of African Descent and aligns with the African Union’s Decade of Reparations initiative.
Speaking on behalf of the African Group Ghana’s President John Mahama described the resolution as a unified step toward justice and historical acknowledgment.
He said the international community must confront the truth of the past while working toward healing and meaningful redress for affected populations.
For over four centuries, millions of Africans were forcibly taken from their homelands and transported across the Atlantic under brutal conditions.
They were subjected to forced labour on plantations in the Americas, enduring violence, exploitation, and the systematic denial of their rights and identity.
The resolution highlights the scale and brutality of the slave trade, describing it as a defining historical injustice with long-lasting consequences that continue to shape global inequalities and racial discrimination.
It stresses the need to address these legacies in ways that promote human rights, dignity, and social justice for people of African descent worldwide.
The document also recognises reparations as a key mechanism for addressing historical harm and advancing equitable development.
President of the UN General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, stated that slavery remains one of the most egregious violations of human rights in history.
She noted that both enslaved individuals and African societies suffered immense losses, including generations of people whose contributions to development were lost.
Baerbock described the transatlantic slave trade as a form of large-scale resource extraction that weakened African nations.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on countries to tackle the lasting impact of slavery, including systemic racism and inequality.
He urged global leaders to remove barriers limiting opportunities for people of African descent and to prioritise inclusive development.
Guterres also advocated for fair access to education, healthcare, employment, housing, and environmental safety, alongside greater representation for African nations in global institutions such as the UN Security Council.
He further emphasised the importance of respecting African countries’ control over their natural resources.
However, the United States opposed the resolution, with its representative to the UN Economic and Social Council, Dan Negrea stating that the U.S. does not recognise a legal obligation for reparations tied to historical acts that were not considered unlawful at the time.
