African Union Praises UN Resolution Recognizing Slave Trade

(MENAFN) The African Union (AU) has welcomed a recent UN resolution that recognizes the transatlantic slave trade and the enslavement of Africans as among the most severe crimes against humanity, describing it as “an important step toward truth, justice, and healing,” according to reports.

AU Commission Chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf highlighted that the resolution, championed by Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, who leads AU efforts on reparations, “reinforces the urgent need to address the enduring legacy of slavery.”

He also praised Mahama’s “important leadership,” noting that it reflects Africa’s longstanding and principled call for full acknowledgment of the slave trade and its continuing impacts. Youssouf emphasized the AU’s insistence on comprehensive recognition of both the historical and present-day consequences of slavery, including initiatives aimed at reparative justice.

The resolution passed with broad support, garnering 123 votes in favor. Only three countries— the US, Israel, and Argentina—voted against it. Meanwhile, 52 nations abstained, including several EU members, the UK, Canada, and Japan, while African states and other countries from the Global South strongly endorsed the measure, as stated by reports.

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