Get Guardian on Google…Rejects attempts to shift slavery blame to Africans
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticised moves by some African countries to restrict visa-on-arrival arrangements for fellow Africans, saying such policies contradict the continent’s efforts to promote unity, integration and economic cooperation.
According to him, it was contradictory for African leaders to speak about building a united continent while introducing barriers that make it difficult for Africans to travel, interact and pursue opportunities across national borders.
He spoke at the ongoing Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) 2026, sponsored by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the African Union in Lagos, where he called for stronger connections among Africans on the continent and in the diaspora.
The discussion was linked to the book, Lest We Forget: Slavery, Slave Trade, Colonisation, Emancipation and Reparation, produced through Obasanjo’s initiative.
Obasanjo argued that Africa could not achieve meaningful integration if its citizens continued to face restrictions when moving from one country to another, stressing the need to make movement across the continent easier.
The former president had also advocated the introduction of visas-on-arrival or a common visa for African countries, arguing that Africans seeking to trade within the continent should not have to obtain several visas.
He said Africa and its people shared a common history and interests, adding that divisions created by greed and other interests should not prevent them from working together for collective prosperity.
Obasanjo also urged Africans not to forget the atrocities of the transatlantic slave trade, faulting attempts to shift responsibility for the trade mainly to Africans.
He said European powers encouraged conflicts among African communities, supplied weapons and organised the trade in enslaved people for economic gain, arguing that their role should not be overlooked in discussions about slavery and reparations.
He maintained that the involvement of some African rulers and merchants should not be used to divert attention from the role played by European powers in the enslavement and transportation of millions of Africans.
He said Africans must never forget the suffering caused by the slave trade, although forgiveness could be considered where there was genuine remorse.
Similarly, Former Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves reinforced the call for stronger links between Africa and the Caribbean, describing their relationship as one shaped by shared history and cultural connections.
He described Caribbean civilisation as a combination of indigenous songs, European melody, African rhythm and Asian chords, with Caribbean lyrics, highlighting the different influences that shaped the region.
Gonsalves also supported reparations, describing them as an issue of international justice and a response to the lasting effects of slavery and colonialism.
He said the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) had developed a 10-point reparations plan covering formal apologies, health, education, housing, poverty reduction, technology, memorials and the return of stolen cultural artefacts. The plan also includes debt relief and financial compensation.
He argued that reparations should be treated as a distinct framework for addressing the consequences of slavery rather than ordinary development assistance.
Professor Paulette Ramsey, Professor of Afro-Hispanic Literature and Culture in Jamaica called for stronger efforts to preserve African heritage and protect the intellectual property and creative works of people of African descent.
She said African traditions, including folktales, proverbs and oral storytelling, had survived in different parts of the diaspora, but more needed to be done to preserve and transmit them to younger generations
Ramsey urged African governments to introduce policies that protect creative works and ensure that African history and cultural traditions are reflected in education systems, particularly for younger people in the diaspora.
