Passaris demands reparations, calls for justice at Pan-African Parliament
By Faith Lagat, July 25, 2025Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has made a passionate appeal for reparations and historical justice at the Fifth Ordinary Session of the Sixth Pan-African Parliament, on July 25, 2025, in Midrand, South Africa.
The high-level session, chaired by Fatimetou Habib of Mauritania, is focused on the theme “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations”—a central pillar of the African Union’s 2025 agenda.
The gathering brought together lawmakers, diplomats, AU officials, and civil society leaders for robust discussions on governance, peace, and continental unity.
Passaris, who is also a member of the Pan-African Parliament, participated in a session dedicated to strengthening Africa’s governance and integration frameworks.
She took to her X, “Attending the Fifth Ordinary Session of the Sixth Pan-African Parliament this morning… I took part in a powerful session dedicated to strengthening continental governance and integration,” she noted. Delegates reviewed the outcomes of a recent consultative meeting between the AU Peace and Security Council and PAP, analysed APRM Country Reports, and examined the broader Governance Report.
This speaks to who we are as Africans
In a compelling address to the chamber, Passaris called on fellow parliamentarians to support a motion on reparative justice, urging recognition of Africa’s painful past and continued marginalisation.
“It is an issue that touches on the very fabric of our continent. It is an issue that speaks to the heart of who we are as Africans. It is an issue that speaks to the pain and suffering that our people have endured for centuries… to the need for justice, for reparations, for healing.”
Passaris recounted the continent’s history of exploitation—referencing the transatlantic slave trade, colonialism, and neocolonialism—describing them as forces that left “deep scars” across generations. “Millions of our people were forcibly taken from their homes, their families, and their communities. They were subjected to unspeakable horrors, to unimaginable suffering,” she said.
Hope, resilience, united call for justice
Despite the enduring impact of historical injustices, Passaris noted the strength and resilience of African communities. “We see it in the way that they have overcome adversity, in the way that they have built communities, and in the way that they have fought for their rights.”
Her remarks struck a balance between confronting hard truths and projecting a vision of hope. “It gives me hope that we can overcome the challenges that we face. It gives me hope that we can build a better future for our people. And it is that hope that drives me to support this motion.”
She also stressed that reparations must not be reduced to mere compensation. “They are about acknowledging the pain and suffering… taking responsibility for the actions of the past… committing to a better future… building a continent that is just, that is equitable, that is inclusive.”
In her closing remarks, Passaris urged fellow legislators to send a bold message to the world. “That we, as Africans, will not be silent. That we will not be ignored. That we will not be marginalised. That we demand justice, that we demand reparations, that we demand healing.”
The Midrand session has reignited continental conversations on healing, accountability, and integration, with Passaris’s speech drawing widespread attention as a rallying cry for action.