Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Rashid Abdulwahid has said the upcoming Second Africa-Caribbean Summit (AfriCaricom) will be a milestone in strengthening South-South cooperation, with reparations for Africans and people of African descent taking centre stage.
The summit, set for September 6 to 7, 2025, in Addis Ababa, will bring together leaders from across Africa and the Caribbean under the theme “Transcontinental Partnership for Reparation for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparation.”
In an interview, Ambassador Abdulwahid said the meeting will provide a unique platform for both regions to unite around shared historical experiences and common development goals.
“This year’s summit is significant because it is being held under the theme of reparations,” he said.
“It is about building bridges, creating synergy and strengthening interdependence among Africans on the continent and in the diaspora. AfriCaricom will be a platform that allows us to work together on investment, cooperation and cultural exchange.”
He said discussions will also focus on climate resilience, noting that both Africa and the Caribbean are vulnerable to environmental challenges and must coordinate strategies to mitigate risks.
“As host of the African union headquarters, Ethiopia is at the forefront of building these bridges for mutual growth and solidarity,” Ambassador Abdulwahid said.
The Africa-Caribbean Summit was first held virtually in September 2021, convened by then-Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.
That inaugural meeting brought together more than 40 Heads of State and Government, who pledged to deepen political, economic and cultural ties between the two regions.
This year’s in-person edition in Addis Ababa is expected to take cooperation further by setting a clear agenda on reparations for slavery and colonial injustices, a subject increasingly recognised within African union frameworks.
In May 2025, the African union marked Africa Day with a theme emphasising reparations, reflecting growing continental consensus that justice for historical wrongs must be part of Africa’s development and unity agenda.
AfriCaricom is also seen as an extension of this momentum, linking African states with CARICOM, the regional bloc representing Caribbean nations, which has long championed reparations for slavery and colonial exploitation.
Ambassador Abdulwahid said the Addis Ababa summit will therefore not only address immediate issues of trade, investment and development but also lay the groundwork for a stronger transcontinental movement for reparations and solidarity.
“This initiative reflects the importance of partnership,” he said.
“Together, Africa and the Caribbean can chart a new course for their peoples.”
Online Reporter