Algeria will host the International Conference on the Crimes of Colonialism in Africa on 30 November and 1 December 2025, a landmark continental gathering organized in line with African Union Assembly Decision 903(XXXVIII)
The decision endorsed President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s proposal for Algeria to convene a conference dedicated to implementing the African Union Theme of the Year 2025: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.”
The choice of Algeria carries strong historical resonance. A nation that endured immense suffering under colonial rule, Algeria today positions itself as one of the foremost champions of historical justice, reparations, and the protection of the dignity and memory of African peoples. Under President Tebboune’s leadership, the country is advancing regional and international efforts to formally recognize colonialism, slavery, racial segregation and apartheid as crimes against humanity, in line with AU recommendations.
The conference will gather ministers, jurists, historians, academics, and experts from across Africa, the Caribbean and other regions, with the aim of forging a unified African position on historical justice, reparations, the restitution of cultural heritage, and the preservation of collective memory. Discussions will explore the human, cultural, economic, environmental, and legal dimensions of colonial crimes, including intergenerational trauma, the spoliation and destruction of cultural heritage, the exploitation of natural resources, and inequitable economic structures inherited from colonialism. Particular focus will be given to environmental damage, including nuclear testing conducted on African populations.
Participants will also address legal pathways to strengthen the criminalization of colonialism and establish a permanent African mechanism for reparations and restitution. As the initiator and host, Algeria aims to support the development of a robust continental framework for historical justice and to promote concrete mechanisms for reparative action.
A key expected outcome of the event is the adoption of the “Algiers Declaration,” a document intended to serve as a continental reference for the codification of colonial crimes, the acknowledgment of their impacts, and the elaboration of an African strategy for justice and reparations. The declaration will be submitted to the African Union Summit in February 2026 for consideration and endorsement.
Through this initiative, Algeria reaffirms its leading role on the continent, contributing decisively to African aspirations for justice, reparations, the safeguarding of historical memory, and the strengthening of a shared identity built on dignity and the principles of justice.