Lomé, December 14, 2024 – (© AfreePress) – Togo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Robert Dussey, has called for international recognition of the crimes of slavery and colonization as genocides, advocating for memory-based justice for African peoples.
Speaking on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, in Havana, on the sidelines of the International Conference dedicated to the Decade of People of African Descent, the Togolese diplomat condemned the inaction and denial of historical responsibility by colonial powers.
“Why do we hesitate to confront essential truths at the right moment? Why do we persist in denying that slavery and colonization imposed on African peoples are crimes against humanity, genocides?” Prof. Dussey questioned, forcefully emphasizing the urgency of a global debate on the issue.
He stressed that this recognition must begin with a shift in mindsets, initiated in childhood through educational programs tailored for Africans and Afro-descendants.
The minister also urged the United Nations to take a decisive step by acknowledging these atrocities in universal history as genocides. “We have a duty to call things by their name. The slavery inflicted on African peoples is genocide, and this truth must be formally recognized by the United Nations,” he insisted.
With this impactful statement, Prof. Dussey reaffirms Togo’s commitment to amplifying Africa’s voice in the fight for historical justice and dignity.
Albertine A.
