On August 29, the Blaise Senghor Cultural Center in Dakar vibrated to the rhythm of a high-intensity debate on colonial memory and the future of the continent. A large roundtable brought together intellectuals, representatives of the press, and emblematic pan-African organizations such as GASSI (Front for the Withdrawal of French Military Bases from Senegal) and MIR (International Movement for Reparations). The event, marked by the screening of the documentary "Reparations: The Colonial Debt," gave rise to lively discussions on the historical crimes of the West, the persistent economic domination of France, and the legal means of obtaining justice.

From military withdrawal to economic battles

At the opening, Souleymane Jules Diallo, leader of the JIF'AFRIK movement, recalled that GASSI had achieved a major objective: the withdrawal of French military bases from Senegal. But he immediately added that this victory was only partial, as Paris retains decisive influence through economic and monetary mechanisms. For him, the fight must now broaden and focus on reparations, in order to settle a historic debt that France refuses to assume.

The question of reparations as a moral and political requirement

Abdoulaye Diene, FIPAN supervisor, made an illuminating comparison. He recalled that Germany had paid significant reparations after World War II, contributing to the reconstruction and well-being of Jewish communities. According to him, Africa, a victim of centuries of slavery, colonization, and economic plunder, equally deserves to have its suffering recognized and redressed. “Colonial crimes shattered entire societies, and reparations are an essential step toward justice,” he insisted.

Kyssama Mutombo, also representing FIPAN, went further, calling the colonial acts a "true genocide." She argued that the scale of the violence, the destructuring of African societies, and the plundering of natural resources cannot go unpunished. For her, only a coordinated pan-African mobilization can force the former colonial powers to admit their responsibilities.

Memory, archives and sovereignty

Pan-Africanist activist Théophile Ndick Pouye reframed the debate in Senegal by evoking the Thiaroye massacre in 1944, where demobilized riflemen were executed by the French army. He regretted that Senegal still does not have access to all French archives concerning this episode, a symbol of the difficulties in establishing historical truth. For him, the state, Pan-Africanist organizations, and civil society must combine their efforts to place the issue of reparations at the heart of the African political agenda.

Senegalese activist Ousmane Camara emphasized the economic dimension of this struggle. He denounced France's continued role in the country's monetary policy and the influence of its multinationals, which are hindering the emergence of true economic sovereignty. He called for collective mobilization to break these invisible chains that prolong dependency.

Towards a new stage of Pan-Africanism

The interventions converge towards the same conclusion: the fight for reparations is no longer just a memorial issue. It is becoming a political and legal demand that is part of the continuity of contemporary Pan-Africanism. After the successful battle for the withdrawal of French troops, the organizations now want to transform this dynamic into a structured campaign for historical justice.

The Dakar conference thus illustrates a turning point: Pan-Africanists are no longer content to denounce; they intend to impose a balance of power. In their speeches, it is clear that the time has come to move from words to deeds, demanding from Europe not only recognition of its colonial crimes, but also compensation for centuries of exploitation and plunder.

For the organizers, this approach is not only about putting the past behind them. It must also open a new chapter, where Africa, strengthened by its unity and regained sovereignty, engages with the West in a dialogue as equals.