Africa-Press – Tanzania. Tanzania has thrown its weight behind a growing continental campaign demanding reparations from former colonial powers, following a landmark meeting of African officials and legal experts in Algiers.
Speaking after the International Conference on the Crimes of Colonialism in Africa, Tanzania’s Ambassador to Algeria, Iman Njalikai, said African states were now united in seeking accountability for what they describe as massive economic and cultural losses suffered under colonial rule.
“Africa is no longer speaking in fragmented voices,” Njalikai said in an interview. “As it was resolved during the extraordinary conference, Tanzania is in support of the decision.”
The just ended meeting highlighted that African countries had data, political will and a shared commitment. When you quantify the extraction that took place for decades, the losses run into the trillions. “There must be a serious conversation about responsibility and repair.”
The two-day conference, which ended Monday, brought together representatives from more than 40 African countries to advance a coordinated approach to reparatory justice. Delegates called for colonial atrocities and economic exploitation to be recognised formally as international crimes, arguing that such a designation would provide a basis for claims through diplomatic channels or new legal mechanisms.
Among the priorities discussed were the return of stolen cultural artefacts, financial compensation for resource extraction, and the establishment of a continent-wide claims body. Participants also urged the African Union (AU) to accelerate work on a legal framework that would guide the negotiation of reparations with former colonial governments.
For Tanzania, which experienced German and later British colonial rule, Njalikai said the next step is compiling a detailed national dossier documenting asset removals, mineral extraction patterns and cultural property held abroad. “You cannot negotiate without evidence,” he said. “Tanzania will bring forward a technical file grounded in history, economics and law.”
African economists and civil society groups say colonial-era resource transfers — ranging from minerals and cash crops to unpaid labour and intellectual property — created long-term structural deficits that still shape development outcomes. While methodologies differ, several studies estimate cumulative losses across the continent in the trillions of dollars when calculated using modern valuation standards.
The push for reparations has gained traction in recent years as European institutions have begun returning cultural items acquired during the colonial period. Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands have faced increasing pressure to expand restitution efforts, creating precedents some African officials believe can be extended to financial claims.
However, diplomats expect significant resistance. Western governments have acknowledged historical injustices but stopped short of accepting legal liability or endorsing large-scale compensation. Analysts say defining colonialism as an international crime would require political consensus that is unlikely to emerge quickly.
Even so, African leaders say the Algiers conference has shifted the conversation. The meeting produced what officials described as the most coherent continental roadmap yet, combining legal proposals, valuation guidelines and a unified diplomatic strategy.
“This is not about reopening old wounds,” Njalikai said.
The AU is expected to table the reparations roadmap at its next summit, setting the stage for complex negotiations that could redefine Africa’s relationship with Europe in the coming decade.
