Commonwealth leaders are set to challenge the UK by advancing discussions on reparatory justice for the transatlantic slave trade at the upcoming summit in Samoa.
Although Downing Street has maintained that the issue is not on the official agenda, diplomatic sources have confirmed that officials are working on an agreement to further explore the matter of reparations.
Frederick Mitchell, Foreign Minister of the Bahamas, told the BBC that while it may take time for consensus, the conversation will advance.
Reparatory justice could take many forms, including financial reparations, debt relief, or official apologies.
The draft summit communiqué seen by the BBC highlights the Commonwealth’s commitment to meaningful conversations on slavery’s legacy, with plans to prioritize further research into the transatlantic slave trade and its long-term effects.
The UK has resisted formalizing the discussion on reparations, but sources indicate that the issue will remain central at future Commonwealth summits.
Many Caribbean leaders, supported by the Caricom organization, have called for the UK to address its historical role in slavery.
A 2023 report estimated that the UK could owe over £18 trillion in reparations for its involvement in the slave trade.
This debate signals a growing divide within the Commonwealth on how to address the legacy of slavery
