Coming to Terms with the Past? Reparations as a Test for Africa-Europe Relations

by Ibrahima Faye

Karoline Eickhoff and Ueli Staeger’s essay looks at reparations not only as a question of justice for the past but also as a test for the future of Africa-Europe relations. They show that the way Europe responds to calls for reparations will reveal whether it truly respects Africa as an equal partner or whether it still wants to act like a former master. I found their essay important because it connects history to today’s diplomacy and international cooperation.

The first important point they make is that reparations are about recognition as much as about material support. The authors explain that many African voices are not only asking for money but for an acknowledgment that colonialism and slavery were crimes that caused lasting harm. Without this recognition, trust cannot exist. Reparations, then, are not just about development funds but also about moral responsibility and truth telling.

The second point is that the debate about reparations is already shaping Africa-Europe relations. The authors show that African leaders are increasingly bringing up reparations in talks about trade, aid, and partnerships. For Europe, this is uncomfortable, but it cannot be ignored. How Europe responds will either strengthen or weaken its relationship with Africa. If Europe continues to avoid responsibility, then the relationship will remain unequal and fragile.

The third point is that reparations can be a chance for a new partnership. Eickhoff and Staeger suggest that instead of seeing reparations only as payments for past wrongs, Europe and Africa could use them as a foundation for building more balanced cooperation. Reparations could take many forms debt cancellation, fairer trade terms, returning stolen cultural objects, or supporting African-led development projects. The main idea is that reparations could open the door to a more just and equal future.

My thoughts about this essay are quite hopeful. I agree with the authors that reparations are a test. If Europe is serious about equality, it will stop pretending the past does not matter. As a humanist, I believe honesty is the first step toward real partnership. You cannot build friendship on denial.

At the same time, I am cautious. Too often, Europe speaks about partnership while still keeping power in its own hands. Words like “cooperation” are used, but in practice Africa is often treated as a junior partner. For reparations to be real, Europe must not only admit its crimes but also give up some control in the relationship. That is not easy, but it is necessary.

In conclusion, Eickhoff and Staeger’s essay showed me that reparations are not just about the past but about the future of Africa-Europe relations. I agree with their view that reparations can be a bridge toward equality, but only if Europe is honest and Africa is united. Reparations are truly a test, and the result will shape the dignity and partnership of generations to come.