African states could use Keir Starmer‘s Chagos Islands ‘surrender’ as the blueprint for claiming slavery reparations potentially worth trillions of pounds from Britain and other former colonial states
Former colonies plan to use the PM’s deference to international law against the UK and countries including France and Belgium when they come to push their case for compensation.
The African Union, which represents all 55 nations on the continent, has called for ‘meaningful reparations’ from European powers for ongoing ‘systemic injustice’ across the region.
It has pledged to team up with Caribbean countries to seek compensation – with some insisting they are owed trillions of dollars.
Now they are seeking to replicate a legal ruling from the International Criminal Court in The Hague used by Sir Keir to justify paying billions to Mauritius to take over an archipelago including the air base at Diego Garcia.
A source told the Telegraph: ‘The UK has been very vocal about its commitment to international law in this instance.
‘That is something the continent really appreciates. We believe it might also be standardised.
‘If you accept [the Chagos opinion], then what international law says about recognising the transatlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity must also be recognised.’
Former empire colonies plan to use the PM’s deference to international law against the UK when they come to push their case.
Now they are seeking to replicate a legal ruling from the International Criminal Court in The Hague used by Sir Keir to justify paying billions to Mauritius to take over an archipelago including the air base at Diego Garcia
Ghana has been tasked with leading on the issue, with its foreign minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa telling an AU summit: ‘By standing together at the United Nations, we signal to the world that Africa will no longer allow the scale of its historical suffering to be minimised’
The AU agreed at a summit in February that a UN resolution due to be tabled on March 25 will seek formal recognition of the transatlantic slave trade as a ‘grave crime against humanity’.
Ghana has been tasked with leading on the issue, with its foreign minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa saying the resolution will ‘demand reparations including the return of looted objects’.
He told the summit: ‘By standing together at the United Nations, we signal to the world that Africa will no longer allow the scale of its historical suffering to be minimised.
‘We seek not only recognition, but a global legal framework that paves the way for healing, accountability, restitution and restorative justice.’
The move raises the prospect that Britain – which controlled a quarter of Africa at the height of empire – could find itself facing fresh claims over the slave trade and colonialism.
Britain abolished the slave trade in the early 18th Century and then played a crucial role in smashing the practice worldwide.
Reparations are now being framed more broadly, not only in terms of slavery, but also the return of cultural artefacts, reforms to global economic systems, and compensation for climate change impacts.
Leaders argue that the industrialised nations of the ‘Global North’ bear historical responsibility for environmental degradation.
Other colonial powers that could face pressure include France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Germany – all of which carved up Africa by the late 19th century.
Sir Keir has been facing an upsurge in anger over his decision to hand the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius, which is seen as an ally of China.
Last week Donald Trump issued a new blast at the deal as he fumed at Sir Keir’s initial bar on use of Diego Garcia for the Iran strikes – which Mauritius opposes.
Mauritius PM Navin Ramgoolam has raised the prospect of legal action if Britain does not go ahead with the deal.
But it is understood the UK government believes there are no grounds in international law for a compensation claim if the treaty is not ratified.
