African leaders have gathered in Algiers, passionately demanding the formal recognition, criminalization, and compensation for colonial-era crimes. This groundbreaking resolution, passed during a summit in May, aims to redefine colonization as a crime against humanity,something current international law fails to acknowledge. The African Union (AU) has thrown its support behind this ambitious initiative, highlighting the urgency of addressing these historical wrongs.

During the meeting, leaders pointed fingers at European powers for the vast economic devastation wrought upon Africa as they plundered the continent's abundant resources, including gold, diamonds, and rubber. The financial toll of colonialism on Africa is staggering, with some estimates placing it in the trillions of dollars. It's clear that the scars of exploitation run deep, leaving countless communities in poverty.

Algeria’s Foreign Minister, Ahmed Attaf, made headlines by emphasizing the symbolic significance of hosting the meeting in Algeria, a nation that suffered under the brutal yoke of French colonial rule. He declared that establishing a legal framework for reparations is vital, insisting that restitution must be viewed as “neither a gift nor a favor,” but as a rightful acknowledgment of the past. This statement signals a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for justice.

Under French rule, nearly a million European settlers thrived, enjoying privileges that the indigenous Algerians could only dream of. The fight for independence was paved with blood, as hundreds of thousands of Algerians lost their lives to the brutal tactics of French forces, which included torture and forced disappearances. Algeria’s harrowing history stands as a grim reminder of colonial atrocities.

Attaf’s pointed remarks about Algeria’s painful legacy serve to amplify the call for reparations, which is gaining momentum across the continent. In 2017, French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged some aspects of French colonial history as crimes against humanity but notably stopped short of issuing a formal apology. Instead, he urged the Algerians to “move beyond” their troubled past, a statement that has reignited debates on reparations and accountability.

Moreover, the quest for reparations is intertwined with the demand for the return of looted artifacts currently residing in European museums. Many vital Algerian cultural treasures, like the 16th-century cannon Baba Merzoug, remain in France, epitomizing a broader struggle for restitution and acknowledgment of Africa’s rich heritage.

The fervent push for reparations and the formal recognition of colonial-era crimes mark a significant chapter in the narrative of African leaders seeking to rectify historical injustices. As discussions progress, there's a palpable hope that these efforts will lead to a more just and equitable future for African nations and their peoples, reshaping the landscape of international relations in the process.