1 October 2025
The multigenerational impacts of colonialism, the transatlantic slave trade, and successive waves of conflict continue to shape the socio-economic and political realities of African youth today. From inherited trauma to structural inequalities, the legacy of historical injustice is alive in the lived experiences of young people.
Despite constituting 60% of the population across Africa, young people remain on the periphery of continental reparations policy processes. Reparations are not only about righting past wrongs, but also about shaping a just and inclusive future.
This policy brief (authored by Enya Echeng, Hanna Tadesse, Bwambale Asiimwe Micheal), argues that youth participation should not be a matter of tokenism but a fundamental justice imperative. Drawing on regional consultations conducted by the African Youth for Transitional Justice Network (AY4TJ) and broader continental frameworks like the African Union Transitional Justice Policy (AUTJP), it outlines actionable steps to embed meaningful youth participation in reparations discourse. The brief also offers policy recommendations aimed at governments, transitional justice bodies, and international partners to ensure that reparations in Africa are not only backward-looking but also forward-building anchored in the voices, leadership, and vision of its youth.
This brief is the first in a five-part youth-led series exploring the linkages between historical injustices, their enduring impacts in different African contexts, and the insufficiency of efforts to address these atrocities.
Learn more Download (pdf 6.76 MB)