The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, has welcomed the adoption of a United Nations resolution declaring the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialised chattel enslavement as the gravest crime against humanity.
The resolution, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly and led by Ghana on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, marks what the Commission described as a significant milestone in the global recognition of the historical injustices of slavery and their lasting consequences.
The Chairperson commended President John Dramani Mahama for his leadership on the initiative, noting that it reflects Africa’s longstanding call for full acknowledgment of the transatlantic slave trade.
“This historic decision marks an important step toward truth, justice, and healing, and reinforces the urgent need to address the enduring legacy of slavery,” H.E. Mahamat said.
The Commission reiterated the African Union’s position that the historical and contemporary impacts of slavery must be fully recognised, including the pursuit of reparative justice in line with Agenda 2063 and relevant Assembly decisions.
It added that the African Union would continue to work with the United Nations, member states and international partners to advance historical justice and ensure that such crimes are neither forgotten nor repeated.
