Africa Day 2025: Experts Call for Reparative Justice and Collective Healing
Pamplemousses, Mauritius – To commemorate Africa Day 2025, the Africa Leadership College for Higher Education (ALCHE), in partnership with Brahma Kumaris and the United Nations Association of Mauritius, hosted a significant gathering focused on the theme of “Reparative Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations.”
The event, held at ALCHE’s campus in Pamplemousses, united prominent political leaders, spiritual figures, diplomats, and scholars, including the Vice-President of Mauritius, His Excellency Mr Jean Robert Yvan Hungley, and Junior Foreign Affairs Minister, Honourable Mr Hambyrajen Narsinghen. Dignitaries from the United Nations, African Union, and grassroots justice organizations contributed to discussions on redressing historical injustices inflicted on Africa.
Beyond Celebration: Toward Reparative Justice
Unlike typical commemorative events, this year’s programme aimed to deeply interrogate Africa’s historical injustices and propose actionable strategies for repair, healing, and transformation. Panel discussions addressed the legal, historical, cultural, and spiritual foundations of reparative justice, aligning with the African Union’s 2025 theme of justice and reparations.
Panel One: “Restoring Dignity” Through Legal and Cultural Recognition
The first panel, “Restoring Dignity: Legal, Cultural, and Historical Pathways to Reparatory Justice,” delved into the trauma experienced by African communities due to colonization, slavery, and economic exploitation. Participants included representatives from the ECOSOCC of the African Union, Chagos Refugees Group, and faculty from ALCHE.
Discussions emphasized the need to recognize the historical record and provide legal frameworks and institutional reforms to ensure justice, restitution, and a dignified future for Africans and the diaspora.
Panel Two: Spiritual Healing and Meditation as Tools for Justice
Led by members of the Brahma Kumaris, the second panel titled “Spiritual Healing for Justice” explored how meditation and spiritual introspection could support collective healing. The speakers encouraged transcending social identifiers like race or nationality to engage with universal values and shared humanity.
The session emphasized how spiritual practices can bridge cultural divides, promote reconciliation, and nurture peace across African communities, echoing the teachings of Ubuntu and shared destiny.
Leadership Remarks: Vision for a Just and Prosperous Africa
In his keynote address, Vice-President Jean Robert Yvan Hungley emphasized Mauritius’s position as a strategic bridge between Africa and Asia. He endorsed inclusive policy reforms and stronger intra-African cooperation:
“Africa is rich, not only in natural resources but also in human potential and cultural wealth… Let us move beyond commemoration into meaningful action that empowers communities, protects rights, and ensures prosperity for generations to come.”
Referencing Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, the Vice-President underscored the importance of building value chains and leveraging Africa’s youth and innovation capacity for sustainable transformation.
Foreign Minister’s Pledge: Unity and Reparations
Junior Minister Hambyrajen Narsinghen spoke passionately about Africa’s historic journey since the founding of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963, and reaffirmed Mauritius’s solidarity with continental struggles—especially the call for the return of the Chagos Archipelago and the pursuit of justice through diplomatic and legal avenues.
“Africa Day celebrates unity and justice. Mauritius remains committed to regional integration, peace, and reparations for people of African descent.”
Education and Reimagining Africa’s Future
Veda Sunassee, CEO of ALCHE, used the occasion to reflect on Africa’s development trajectory post-independence. He urged stakeholders to move from dependency to self-determined development, positioning Africa as a global force rooted in dignity, innovation, and education.
He emphasized that education must not only provide skills but also reconnect youth with African history and identity. ALCHE, he said, is working to train a new generation of ethical, entrepreneurial leaders who will drive Africa’s transformation from within.
Youth and Cultural Heritage: Foundations for Tomorrow
Concluding the event, participants emphasized intergenerational dialogue and the transmission of African values to youth. By investing in education, culture, and justice, Africa can shape an inclusive, resilient future that transcends colonial legacies.
The event was a stirring reminder that Africa Day is more than a moment of pride—it is a call to action. A call to remember, to repair, and to rise as one continent united in justice, healing, and hope.