Hon. Sulayman Saho, the Gambian lawmaker and the National Assembly Member for Central Badidou, has joined a chorus of African legislators in calling for reparation for the historic crimes of slavery, colonialism, and exploitation, at the ongoing 5th Ordinary Session of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP).
Speaking on the floor of the continental assembly, Hon. Saho, who is Member of The Gambia delegation to PAP, described the trans-Atlantic slave trade as a “holocaust”, citing its devastating impact on the African people and the continent’s development. “Millions of Africans lost their lives, our dignity was stripped, and our future was distorted,” he declared.
In a passionate appeal, Hon. Saho demanded not only financial compensation but also the return of looted artefacts, particularly those taken to Europe during colonial rule.
“The looted resources that were taken to England must be returned,” he said. “There should be a court system to start the trials.”
He praised the Republic of Benin for successfully reclaiming stolen artefacts from France and called on other African governments to follow suit.
The debate, which formed part of the wider discussions under the African Union’s 2025 theme “Justice for Africans and Persons of African Descent Through Reparations”, saw lawmakers across the continent echoing similar sentiments.
However, legislators from Kenya, Uganda, Lesotho, and Namibia shared legal precedents and emotional appeals for historical accountability and restitution.
