Resettlement of Africans in Africa
- Nyabuoy Gatbel
- Jun 16, 2024
- 3 min read
Historically and in contemporary times, people of African descent have been suffering in various ways throughout the world due to the legacy of the Arab slave trade, the transatlantic slave trade and many years of colonization from different world powers. As a result, we have been scattered all over the globe. Those African people taken via the transatlantic slave trade were situated in the Americas and the Caribbean. In contrast, the Africans taken via the Arab slave trade are found in the Middle East, Meditteranean and Europe. In contemporary Africa, political and military instability due to the legacy of colonialism and the slave trade contributed to massive refugee crises and internally displaced persons (IDPs) throughout the continent. Therefore people of African descent ended up in the diaspora for many reasons related to the exact root causes; therefore, repatriation is attractive for all under the right conditions.
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 2015-2024 as the International Decade of People of African Descent (IDPAD). It is the time for people of African descent in the diaspora to have options for their future and to have their challenges, plight, injustices and the various types of dehumanization they have faced in human history to be recognized and have retribution. Therefore repatriation is defined as "the act or process of restoring or returning someone or something to the country of origin, allegiance, or citizenship," in essence, "facilitate a welcome return and resettlement of the descendants of enslaved Africans." Repatriation is a choice since self-determination is recognized by international law in this particular case.
Repatriation is not a forced return back to Africa but an option with the right conditions for the descendants of enslaved Africans as an opportunity to regain a sense of the homeland and to connect to their ancestors' place of natal origin and birth. Africa would provide the land and the funds as in their portion of the reparations in addition to what their European counterparts would pay for the descendants of enslaved Africans. Those reparations are for the pain and suffering they have faced during slavery, racism, discrimination, and the various forms of dehumanization the African person faces globally.
Repatriation in the South Sudanese case would be the country of South Sudan achieving political, economic, societal and national harmony to give the descendants of South Sudan an option to come home to be free of racial injustice and discrimination, wealth disparities, and lack of opportunities due to the other discriminatory practices. Like their African counterparts in the diaspora, the working and living conditions for the masses are not favourable to their racial background. We all share the same pain and plight manifested in different forms trajectories and narratives, but the root causes of our collective issues are the same.
In conclusion, repatriation in the coming future shall be a reality for the people of African descent, and reparations shall be paid to all since historically, we have been impacted by the legacies of Arab and transatlantic slave trades. We need an option to go home in a peaceful manner to be reconnected to our homeland, but this can only be achieved if Africa, as a whole becomes economically, politically, and militarily stable to ensure the safe journey and landing of people into the continent as the people coming, can begin their new lives. The solution of repatriation and reparation is a secure and sovereign Africa.
References:
Comments