Learning from the Past: Transatlantic Slave Trade, Colonialism, Extractive Economies and Institutions in Africa.

 

• Partners of Choice for Sub-theme 1: the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and African Union Economic Social and Cultural Council (AU-ECOSOCC) 

• “We do not just risk repeating history if we sweep it under the carpet, we also risk being myopic about our present.” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Author. The overall objective of this week is to set the stage for an in-depth discussion of the AU’s theme of the year through a better understanding of history.

 • The colonial period is widely understood to refer to the period from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century. This is often termed as the “Scramble for Africa” – a period in which major European colonial powers competed to control most African territory and natural resources. In the 1870s, only 10 per cent of African territory was controlled by European countries. By stark contrast, in 1914, about 90 per cent of African territory was incorporated into one European empire or another.

• The colonial rule has had a long-lasting impact on African societies, cultures, languages and institutions and presented unique socio-economic and political challenges for the newly independent countries. Furthermore, the legacy of slaveryand the transatlantic slave trade has cast its long shadow over the post-colonial era. In Africa, the forced removal and displacement of millions of people resulted in tremendous societal unrest and conflict. Moreover, the former colonial powers enriched themselves at the expense of African populations through their exploitation of enslaved labour. Not only did this have negative consequences for enslaved Africans in countries to which they were brought, but also in terms of the overall socio-economic developmentpath of Africa, which relied on the extraction and export of Africa’s raw materials and natural resources with little or no value addition at the source.

 • Consequently, structural challenges have become embedded in Africa’s extractive economic model, which highlights the need for stronger institutions as well as the role of SDG 16 in promoting peace,justice, and sustainable livelihoodsacross the continent and beyond. 

• Efforts are being made to restructure Africa’s economic positioning relating to raw materials, including through the recommendations of the Secretary General’s report on Critical Energy Transition Minerals.

 • Despite their disadvantaged start, African nations have proven extremely resilient and made remarkable strides towards regional integration through the African Union, its transformative development blueprint, Agenda 2063, and its Ten-year Implementation Plans, and flagship project. including regional integration initiatives, such as the African Continental FreeTrade Area (AfCFTA).

 • To better appreciate the true value of these milestone achievements, one must first look back to the past and consider the extent of the historic injustice that Africans and people of African descent have endured through colonial and post-colonial periods. 

• This will serve as a segway to discussing the present-day reality and help the stakeholders chart the course for a better future armed with lessons from history.