French President Emmanuel Macron has cautioned against reducing reparations for slavery to mere financial compensation, stressing that justice for historical wrongs must also encompass truth-telling, education, memorialisation and restitution.
Speaking at the High-Level Consultative Conference on “Next Steps” under the United Nations Resolution on enslaved Africans in Accra on Thursday, June 18, 2026, Macron said reparative justice should not be viewed as a process that ends with monetary payments.
According to him, reparations can take various forms aimed at acknowledging historical wrongs and preserving the memory of those affected by slavery.
“Reparations, because this is also what it comes down to when we speak of justice, can take different forms as I mentioned several days ago and as John Dramani Mahama has underlined on several occasions,” he said.
“History cannot be reduced to a simple accounting ledger. Making reparations is about placing this importance of scientific and historical truth; building monuments, teaching, researching. It means returning the works of art that were stolen during those periods.”
Macron noted that reparations also involve addressing unresolved historical grievances, citing ongoing engagements with Haiti as an example.
“Reparations also involves the ability to work out situations as we are currently doing with Haiti. It can be approached from multiple perspectives, but in no case should it be seen as an endpoint, a cheque written to bring the story to a close,” he said.
The French leader maintained that the legacy of slavery remains a living history that must continue to be acknowledged through remembrance, dialogue and efforts to make amends.
“The history will live on and we must continue to bear its names, memories, faces and to make amends, make progress and discuss the future,” he added.
Macron also reaffirmed France’s commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at advancing historical recognition and reparative justice.
“I would like to reiterate my commitment to stand with you. You can count on France,” he said.
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