African youth reject neocolonialism and demand reparations
Young people from Ghana, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and other countries have declared their intention to build a united youth movement against what they describe as continued neocolonial exploitation and economic domination of Africa.
Young people from Ghana, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger gathered in Accra for the International Youth Forum, where they adopted the Legon Declaration on September 5, 2026. The declaration denounced neocolonial exploitation and economic dominance over Africa, expressing solidarity with the Alliance of Sahel States. The delegates called for reparations to address colonial-era injustices and demanded the auditing and cancellation of illegitimate debts imposed on African countries.
They criticized the CFA franc as a symbol of continued economic dependence, arguing that monetary arrangements restricting African countries' independent decision-making required monetary sovereignty. The youth pledged to build stronger connections between Ghanaian youth and AES countries, along with similar movements across Africa and the diaspora.
They also committed to organising peaceful demonstrations, flashmob actions, and public campaigns to challenge mechanisms of colonial-era extraction. The delegates emphasized that reparations are not charity but justice deferred, stating that wealth extracted from Africa contributed to the development of institutions demanding debt discipline.
They pledged to educate other young people about colonial debt, the CFA franc, and neocolonial extraction while holding African leaders and institutions accountable for commitments made at the forum. The declaration concluded with a pledge to view the gathering as the start of a wider campaign, aiming to ensure a better Africa for future generations.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
