Participants at the International Conference on the Crimes of Colonialism in Africa proposed establishing a “historical truth” committee and conducting a continental audit on colonialism’s economic impacts, according to the “Algiers Declaration” issued at the conclusion of the continental meeting.
“We stress the importance of conducting a continental audit on the economic impacts of colonialism to develop a justice-based reparation strategy that includes, among other measures, compensation for plundered wealth, debt cancellation and equitable development financing,” the document said.
“We support establishing a Pan-African Committee on Memory and Historical Truth, which will be tasked with harmonizing historical approaches, overseeing archive collection, coordinating African research centers and producing analyses and recommendations for the continent,” the document added, recommending to set up “national truth and reparations commissions in African Union member states.”
The Algiers Declaration stresses “the urgent need to reform African education systems to fully incorporate precolonial, colonial and postcolonial history and to support younger generations in developing informed historical awareness.”
The participants also recommend “creating pan-African digital archives, redesigning educational curricula and establishing memorials, museums and commemoration days.”
