SAMOA- The leaders of the Commonwealth Group of Nations will meet at are in Samoa in the South Pacific with focus on climate change and reparations for Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade.
Leaders and officials from 56 countries with roots in Britain’s empire, as well as Britain’s King Charles and wife Camilla, are in the small island nation and attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which started on Monday this week.
More than half of the Commonwealth’s members states are small states, many of which are low-lying island nations at risk from rising sea levels due to climate change.
The Commonwealth Meeting comes at a time when the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said ocean temperatures are rising in the Pacific Islands at three times the rate worldwide and its population is uniquely exposed to the impact of rising sea levels.
The Countries’ Foreign Ministers have also held discussions and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong told a news conference after a meeting with counterparts that climate change is an existential threat.
” It is the number one national security threat. It is the number one economic threat to the peoples of the Pacific and to many members of the Commonwealth,” Prime Minister Wong said.
A number of African countries, including Zambia, warned the meeting about the escalating impacts of climate change, including the effects on food security, she added.
King Charles will today afternoon be shown the impact of rising sea levels that are forcing people to move inland and Island leaders are expected to issue a declaration on ocean protection at the summit, with climate change being a central topic of discussion.
The Commonwealth Members will also push for Britain to pay reparations for transatlantic slavery, a long-standing issue that has recently been gaining momentum worldwide, particularly those part of the Caribbean Community and more recently the African Union.
This comes after the British Prime Minister Kier Starmer said that the UK will not bring the issue of reparations for historical transatlantic slavery to the table at the summit, but is open to engage with leaders who want to discuss it.
CARICOM has set up a commission to seek reparations from former colonial powers such as the UK, France and Portugal and those opposed to paying reparations say countries shouldn’t be held responsible for historical wrongs, while those in favor say the legacy of slavery has resulted in persistent and vast racial inequalities today.
A CARICOM source familiar with the matter told journalists that CHOGM presents an “important opportunity” for dialogue on reparations and the region will be tabling the issue there.
“It is a priority for many of the Commonwealth’s member countries and whenever those affected by atrocities ask to talk, there should always be a willingness to sit down and listen,” Kingsley Abbott, the Director University of London’s Institute of Commonwealth Studies, who is attending the summit said.
At least 12.5 million Africans were kidnapped and forcibly transported by European ships and merchants and sold into slavery from the 15th to the 19th century, and those who survived the brutal voyage ended up toiling on plantations under inhumane conditions in the Americas, mostly in Brazil and the Caribbean, while others profited from their labor.
Meanwhile Uganda has officially joined BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) as one of 13 new partner nations in a move set to reshape its international trade and investment prospects.
The Government of Uganda is positioning itself to benefit from deeper economic ties with some of the world’s largest emerging markets, by aligning with the BRICS alliance and other nations joining as BRICS partners include Algeria, Indonesia, Turkey, Nigeria, and Vietnam, as the group seeks to expand its global influence and foster a more balanced, multilateral trade system.
The expansion is part of BRICS’ long-term strategy to challenge the dominance of Western-centric trade and financial institutions, promoting alternative economic pathways in trade and investment opportunities and for Uganda, the inclusion in BRICS presents opportunities to diversify its trade relationships and tap into the vast markets within the alliance.
Uganda stands to gain from increased foreign investment and trade in sectors like oil, minerals, coffee and tea, since the country’s GDP that relies heavily on agriculture and natural resources.
The expansion of BRICS highlights the growing importance of African nations in shaping global economic alliances and Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria has also joined as a BRICS partner, signifying the continent’s increasing role in global trade discussions and therefore, Uganda’s decision to join the BRICS partnership aligns with its broader goal of building alliances outside traditional Western markets.
African nations, long seen as recipients of Western aid and investment, are now seeking to assert themselves in international trade through partnerships that emphasise mutual benefit and economic development and BRICS provides a platform for African countries to engage on more equal footing with major economies as the shift toward south-south cooperation is particularly important for countries like Uganda, which are seeking to reduce dependency on Western markets.
As Uganda enters the BRICS fold, the country is poised for an economic transformation that could see it become a stronger player in global markets.
Through increased foreign direct investment, access to new technology, and enhanced trade relations with BRICS members, Uganda has the potential to accelerate its industrialisation and development goals.
The partnership is also expected to contribute to infrastructure development, particularly in energy and transportation, which are critical for improving Uganda’s economic competitiveness, the move that signals a new era for Uganda, one that emphasises strategic partnerships and global integration with emerging economies.
With BRICS’ influence growing on the world stage, Uganda’s participation could significantly elevate its economic standing, giving it a stronger voice in shaping international trade policies and development initiatives.
Additional Reporting from Associated Press.
