The President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa declared late on Tuesday that Portugal was responsible for crimes committed during transatlantic slavery and the colonial era, indicating a necessity for reparations.
Although Rebelo de Sousa suggested last year that Portugal should express remorse for transatlantic slavery and colonialism, he refrained from delivering a comprehensive apology.
During an event with foreign correspondents on Tuesday, he emphasised Portugal’s acknowledgment of past wrongdoings, asserting that the crimes committed, including colonial massacres, incurred significant costs. He underscored the need to address any actions that went unpunished, individuals who escaped accountability, and goods that were looted and never returned, stating that recognizing and assuming accountability for historical wrongs carried more weight than mere apologies.
“Apologising is the easy part,” he remarked, highlighting the need for concrete actions to address historical injustices and pave the way for meaningful reconciliation.
“We have to pay the costs. Are there actions that were not punished and those responsible were not arrested? Are there goods that were looted and not returned? Lets see how we can repair this”, he said.
Over a span of more than four centuries, an estimated 12.5 million Africans were abducted, forcibly transported across long distances by European ships and merchants, and sold into slavery. Survivors endured strenuous labour on plantations in the Americas, notably in areas such as Brazil and the Caribbean, while others reaped substantial profits from their suffering.
Portugal, which trafficked nearly 6 million Africans, surpassing other European nations in this regard, has thus far avoided confronting its historical role, with limited education on its involvement in transatlantic slavery within schools. The country’s colonial past, which included dominion over territories such as Angola, Mozambique, Brazil, Cape Verde, East Timor, and parts of India, is instead, often romanticised as a source of national pride.
The global momentum for reparations and redress for transatlantic slavery has grown, with calls for the establishment of a special tribunal on the matter. Activists emphasise the importance of reparations and public policies aimed at rectifying the inequalities stemming from Portugal’s historical legacy, including systemic racism.
Melissa Enoch
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