Britain's King Charles acknowledged on Friday the need to understand the Commonwealth's "painful" past, as a gathering of Commonwealth leaders is set to end with a call for discussions about reparations for the British empire's role in transatlantic slavery.

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Britain's King Charles has recently emphasized the importance of acknowledging the Commonwealth's intricate and painful historical ties with slavery. During a Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Samoa, he acknowledged how the lingering effects of colonial history still resonate within African and Caribbean communities. In his address, King Charles advocated the notion that understanding this past is crucial for making informed decisions for the future.

The Commonwealth comprises 56 countries, many of which were once part of the British Empire. The issue of reparations for slavery, driven by increasing global sentiment, has been championed especially by the Caribbean community and the African Union. Proponents argue that reparations are necessary to address enduring racial inequalities, while opponents suggest that historical wrongs should not bind modern nations. The topic has gathered momentum globally, and the debates over the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade remain pertinent.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, present at the summit, emphasized a forward-looking approach. While he resisted calls for reparations related to Britain's historical role, he acknowledged current challenges, such as climate resilience and trade improvement among Commonwealth nations. A report from The Guardian suggested that Starmer has shown willingness to consider non-financial reparations, including potential debt relief. At the summit, the Bahamas’ foreign minister noted that the draft conclusion called for discussions on reparations, to be finalized at the gathering's end.



King Charles nods to 'painful' slavery past amid push for reparations

King Charles said on Friday the Commonwealth needs to acknowledge its painful history, as African and Caribbean nations push for reparations for Britain's role in transatlantic slavery. He was speaking at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Samoa, where climate change and slavery emerged as major themes. I understand from listening to people across the Commonwealth how the most painful aspects of our past continue to resonate. It is vital, therefore, that we understand our history to guide us to make the right choices in the future. The British monarch is a symbolic head of the Commonwealth, which includes 56 countries, most of them former British colonies. The long-running demand for former colonial powers to make amends for slavery and its legacies today has gained momentum worldwide. That's especially among the Caribbean community and the African Union. Opponents of reparations say countries should not be held responsible for historical wrongs, while those in favour say the legacy of slavery has led to vast and persistent racial inequality. Slave trade, slave practice was abhorrent, and it's very important that we start from that place. In an interview on the summit's sidelines, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he wanted to focus on moving forward. We should look at what are today's challenges in this group of countries represented here, today. It's very clear to me that the major challenges are resilience in the face of climate challenges, and also the question of how we improve trade between our countries. Starmer has rejected calls for reparations and ruled out apologising for the country's historic role. But he said he was open to engage with leaders who want to discuss it. The Guardian newspaper reported late on Thursday that sources said Starmer had quote, opened the door to non-financial reparations such as providing debt relief. The Prime Minister's office did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment. The Bahamas' foreign minister told the BBC the summit's draft conclusion has paragraphs calling for a discussion on reparations. That's set to be published on Saturday at the end of the week-long gathering.

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