October 2024

Last week, the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) summit in Samoa amplified growing calls for the United Kingdom to engage in meaningful discussions on reparations for countries impacted by slavery and colonialism.

Commonwealth leaders have agreed the “time has come” for a conversation about reparations for the slave trade, despite the UK’s desire to keep the subject off the agenda at a two-day summit in Samoa.

At the summit, a demand that the United Kingdom pay reparations for its role in the transatlantic slave trade has resurfaced. While the subject is not on the official agenda, Commonwealth leaders said they would hold their own discussions – with or without the approval of the British government.

Commonwealth leaders, ending a week-long summit in Samoa, said on Saturday the time had come for a discussion on whether Britain should commit to reparations for its role in the transatlantic slave trade.
Slavery and the threat of climate change were major themes for representatives of the 56 countries in the group, most with roots in Britain’s empire, at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting that began in the Pacific Islands nation on Monday.

King Charles and Keir Starmer have faced renewed calls for Britain to pay slavery reparations which could far exceed £200 billion ahead of the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chgom) in Samoa from 21-26 October.