Across Africa and the diaspora, celebrations for Africa Day 2025 are underway under the powerful theme: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.”

In a keynote address delivered on behalf of the African Union Commission (AUC), Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf urged Africans globally to unite in demanding redress for the enduring injustices of slavery and colonization.

Youssouf stressed that despite ongoing challenges with conflict, underdevelopment, and war, Africa is laying the groundwork for a future marked by peace, prosperity, and continental integration.

He called for a collective awakening to reshape the continent’s destiny—one rooted in justice, unity, and transformation. He also pointed to Africa’s strategic advantages, including its youthful population, abundant arable land, vast mineral reserves, and renewable energy potential, as key pillars for achieving this vision.

The AU’s message adds momentum to a growing global movement calling for reparative justice, not just as compensation but as a path to reclaiming dignity and securing Africa’s rightful place on the global stage.