OPENING REMAKRS BY H.E. Ambassador Mohamed Edrees Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations | Colloquium on Diaspora Engagement: Dialogue on the Reparations Agenda

  Delivered by Mr. Salem Matug on behalf of H.E. Mohamed Edrees

Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations

22nd September 2025

Good morning

At the very onset, allow me to begin by recognizing and appreciating the distinguished leaders and partners joining us today:

• Mr. Louis Cheick Sissoko, Presiding Officer of the African Union’s Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC);

• Hon. Chief Fortune Charumbira, President of the Pan-African Parliament

• Our esteemed keynote speaker, Mr. Brian Kagoro, Managing Director of Programs at the Open Society Foundations;

• Our colleagues from CARICOM, Member States, civil society, and diaspora networks;

• All our Partners here today

• And all the distinguished Ambassadors, Permanent Representatives, policymakers, academics, and grassroots leaders present with us this afternoon.

  
  

Our presence here reflects the collective importance we attach to this moment, and I thank you for honoring this Colloquium with your participation.

Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Leaders of Civil Society and the Diaspora, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a profound honor, both personally and institutionally, to welcome you all to the African Union Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations for this Colloquium on Diaspora Engagement and the Reparations Agenda.

It’s my privilege, as the newly appointed Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations, I take this opportunity not only to extend a warm greeting, but also to affirm our shared commitment to advancing justice, dignity, and solidarity for Africans and people of African descent worldwide; thank you ECOSOCC for the offering me this unique opportunity to officially start my tenure in New-York by bringing this very august gathering to the Permanent Mission

This convening takes place at a historic moment. As the world gathers here in New York for the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Africa and its global diaspora are united under the African Union’s 2025 Theme of the Year: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations.” This theme is not just symbolic; it is a political and moral call to action. It asks us to transform centuries of advocacy into a concrete global agenda an agenda that not only seeks to rectify historical wrongs but also lays the foundation for a future built on fairness, equity, and mutual respect.

Colleagues and Friends,

The reparations agenda has often been misunderstood as backward-looking. But in truth, it is forward-looking. It is not only about addressing the legacies of slavery, colonialism, and exploitation it is about correcting systemic imbalances that persist today in our financial systems, in global trade, in climate burdens, and in the marginalization of African and diaspora voices in global governance. Reparatory justice, therefore, is not a single demand; it is a comprehensive framework for transformation.

A central pillar of this framework is restitution. Across Africa, we are witnessing the beginning of a new chapter as cultural artifacts, stolen in the colonial era, are returned to their rightful homes in Nigeria, Benin, Senegal, and beyond. Restitution is more than the transfer of objects it is the restoration of memory, of dignity, and of identity. It is an act that empowers communities to reclaim their heritage and to tell their own stories. It is also a powerful example of how reparations can move beyond symbolism and inspire structural shifts in relationships between Africa, its diaspora, and former colonial powers.

Yet restitution must be joined with other dimensions of reparatory justice:

• Economic sovereignty reforming international systems so Africa and its diaspora are not perpetual suppliers of raw materials but full participants in value creation.

• Climate justice recognizing that those least responsible for global emissions bear the greatest cost, and ensuring fair reparations for loss and damage.

• Inclusive governance ensuring Africa and its diaspora have equitable representation and influence in multilateral institutions shaping the world’s future.

This is why today’s dialogue matters. It is not simply a colloquium; it is a bridge. It connects continental efforts including the AU Pre-Summit Symposium in Addis Ababa, the Africa Dialogue Series, and multiple regional engagements with the global platform of UNGA80. It ensures that the advocacy of civil society, grassroots movements, youth, women, academics, and the private sector is aligned with the voices of governments and AU institutions. And it affirms that the African diaspora is not external to Africa’s future it is integral to it.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our gathering today is also a moment of solidarity. Across continents, people of African descent continue to face structural inequalities, exclusion, and injustice. By uniting the voices of Africa and the diaspora, we strengthen our collective power to influence multilateral processes. We position ourselves to shape the Pact for the Future, Agenda 2063, and the Sustainable Development Goals in ways that reflect the lived realities and aspirations of our people.

Let me emphasize: reparatory justice is not charity, nor is it a favor to be granted. It is about rights, responsibility, and recognition. It is about establishing a new relational ethic that acknowledges historical wrongs, repairs their lasting consequences, and lays the foundation for genuine partnership.

Colleagues,

The discussions we begin here today will culminate in policy briefs, advocacy roadmaps, and a framework for sustained collaboration. But beyond documents and declarations, this Colloquium must inspire commitment to transform advocacy into action, symbolism into substance, and dialogue into deliverables.

I therefore urge each of us to engage with courage, creativity, and determination. Let us leave this room not only with words but with a shared strategy for reparatory justice that is inclusive, actionable, and enduring.

With these reflections, it is my honor and privilege to officially declare open the Colloquium on Diaspora Engagement: Dialogue on the Reparations Agenda.

I thank you.