Updated: 21 августа, 2026 11:30 дп
An international conference on the topic “Belgian colonial injustice and the 101-year path to reparations” is being held in Baku.
The main topic of discussion at the conference is the consequences of the colonial policy implemented by Belgium in the territories of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi, as well as the issue of paying compensation to the countries affected by this policy.
Abbas Abbasov, Executive Director of the Baku Initiative Group, stated that the reparations process should not be limited to financial payments alone. According to him, the main goal is to eliminate the long-term consequences of colonialism and solve systemic problems that still negatively affect the development of those countries.
He noted that no financial compensation can bring back the people who lost their lives as a result of the policy pursued by Belgium in the 20th century. However, in his view, the reparations process is of key importance in terms of creating the necessary conditions for the peoples of the Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi to overcome the heavy legacy of the past and build strong and prosperous states.
It was emphasized at the conference that the main goal of reparations is to create conditions for the dignified development of countries affected by colonial policy, as well as for establishing equal relations with other states.
As part of the event, participants will also discuss the final part of the roadmap prepared for ensuring colonial reparations. According to the organizers, the document will be one of the main outcomes of the conference.
