Under the leadership of H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira, President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), the organization’s delegation took a pivotal role at the Second Africa-CARICOM Summit, convened at the African Union Commission headquarters in Addis Ababa on 6–7 September 2025.
Summit Theme and Significance
The summit was held under the compelling theme: “Transcontinental Partnership in Pursuit of Reparatory Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.” This theme highlighted the shared historical experiences and the future aspirations of Africa, the Caribbean, and the wider African diaspora. Hosted by the Ethiopian government in collaboration with the African Union Commission and the CARICOM Secretariat, the event marked an important milestone in legislative diplomacy and inter-regional integration, emphasizing strengthened diaspora engagement.
Landscape of Participation
The summit convened an eminent assembly of high-level dignitaries and stakeholders, including:
– Heads of Government from African Union (AU) and CARICOM member states
– Leaders from key global institutions such as the United Nations Secretary-General, the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and Afreximbank
– Representatives from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), diaspora organizations, civil society groups, and regional bodies
PAP’s Contributions and Vision
In his keynote address, H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira reiterated PAP’s commitment to providing legislative backing and amplifying the collective voices of Africans and people of African descent in the pursuit of reparatory justice and sustainable development. He described the summit as a landmark event in establishing a cohesive transcontinental partnership.
This participation aligns with PAP’s ongoing advocacy for reparations, building on its intensified efforts earlier in 2025, which focused on crafting legislative frameworks to address historical injustices such as slavery and colonialism.
Key Outcomes of the Summit
The summit culminated in significant achievements, including:
1. The adoption of the Addis Ababa Declaration on Reparatory Justice for Africans and People of African Descendants
2. Strengthened institutional cooperation under the AU–CARICOM Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), expanding collaboration in trade, education, culture, technology, and crisis response
3. Joint calls for enhanced investment in infrastructure, technology, and innovation to reinforce economic cooperation
4. Advocacy for reforms in the United Nations Security Council and the international financial architecture to foster equity for Africa and the Caribbean
5. Renewed commitments to climate justice, sustainable development, peace, and security
These results establish a strategic framework designed to deepen transcontinental integration and build on the momentum generated since the inaugural virtual summit in 2021. Notably, Morocco’s delegation introduced the Royal Atlantic Initiative, an ambitious South-South cooperation project aimed at improving Atlantic access for landlocked African states, symbolizing mutually beneficial regional integration.
Africa-CARICOM Day and PAP’s Broader Agenda
The date of 7 September is increasingly recognized as Africa-CARICOM Day, commemorating the 2021 inaugural summit hosted by Kenya and celebrating the growing ties between the two regions.
PAP’s engagement at this summit complements its broader reparatory justice agenda, demonstrated by:
– Co-creating the 2023 Global Reparation Fund, an AU–CARICOM joint initiative to coordinate reparations efforts
– Formalizing a Memorandum of Understanding with the State of the African Diaspora (SOAD), institutionalizing reparatory dialogue through collaborative summits, diaspora recognition, and the establishment of a SOAD office within PAP
These initiatives reinforce PAP’s strategic role as a legislative voice for Africans on the continent and in the diaspora.
Looking Ahead
The summit sets a clear agenda for future action:
– Institutionalizing Reparation Mechanisms: The Addis Ababa Declaration and expanded AU–CARICOM MoU create a robust platform to shape transcontinental reparatory justice frameworks
– Legislative Advocacy: PAP is positioned to lead the harmonization and enactment of reparatory justice legislation across African parliaments
– Global Reform Agenda: Sustained advocacy for reforming global governance structures reinforces the call for equitable international partnership and engagement
– Sustainable Partnership Models: Initiatives such as the Royal Atlantic Initiative exemplify the potential for shared infrastructure and trade projects to drive inclusive prosperity
The 2nd Africa-CARICOM Summit in Addis Ababa was a defining moment that, under PAP’s leadership, advanced a unified vision for reparatory justice, regional integration, and shared development across Africa, the Caribbean, and the diaspora. Placing citizens at the core of the reparations movement and strengthening inter-institutional partnerships, the summit laid a bold, collaborative foundation for the future.
credit: African Parliamentary News
