ALGIERS, Algeria – Algeria will host a landmark continental conference on the crimes of colonialism in Africa from November 30 to December 1, 2025, marking one of the most ambitious efforts yet to advance historical justice, reparations and the legal recognition of colonial-era atrocities.
The International Conference on the Crimes of Colonialism in Africa, convened in Algiers, follows the African Union Assembly Decision 903 (XXXVIII) of February 2025, which endorsed Algeria’s offer to host a forum dedicated to the AU’s theme of the year — “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.”
Officials say the gathering aligns with Algeria’s historic role as a nation that endured severe impacts of colonisation and remains deeply committed to defending the dignity, rights and memory of African peoples.
Under the leadership of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Algeria is pushing to strengthen continental action geared towards criminalizing colonialism, slavery, apartheid and racial segregation as crimes against humanity.
The conference will bring together ministers, jurists, historians, academics and experts from across Africa, the Caribbean and the global South. Delegates are expected to work toward forming a unified African position on historical justice, restitution and the preservation of cultural memory.
Discussions will tackle the human, cultural, economic, environmental and legal dimensions of colonial crimes — including intergenerational trauma, the plunder and destruction of African cultural heritage, resource exploitation, inequitable economic systems inherited from colonial rule, and nuclear tests conducted on African populations.
The meeting will also explore legal avenues for formally criminalising colonialism, and the creation of a permanent African mechanism for reparations and restitution.
A key expected outcome is the adoption of the “Algiers Declaration”, envisioned as a continental reference point for codifying colonial crimes, recognising their impacts, and outlining Africa’s strategy for justice and reparations.
The declaration will be presented to the African Union Summit in February 2026 for endorsement.
Algeria says the initiative reinforces its commitment to African unity and justice, noting that the platform will help drive global recognition of colonial crimes and concrete mechanisms for reparative action.
The country also emphasised its broader goal: supporting African aspirations for justice, historical memory and a shared vision rooted in dignity and the values of justice.
