West trying ‘to wash its hands’ of slavery legacy – South African politician

The refusal to back a recent UN resolution shows a reluctance to acknowledge the impact of past injustices, Themba Godi has said

Western nations historically involved in the transatlantic slave trade are attempting to “wash their hands” of the crimes committed against Africans, former South African MP Themba Godi has said. 

Speaking to RT, the president of the African People’s Convention said the refusal of some countries – including the US, Israel, Argentina, and a host of European nations – to support a UN resolution on the issue last week reflects a broader unwillingness to fully acknowledge historical injustices and their lasting consequences.

“European slave traders and [their] American cousins always try to wash their hands of the atrocities committed against the African people,” Godi said.

He argued that the issue is not primarily about financial reparations, but about recognition of wrongdoing, stressing that the legacy of slavery continues to shape current socio-economic realities in Africa. 

Godi added that efforts to downplay the history of slavery, treating it as “a minor footnote in world history,” including limiting its teaching in some countries, reflect a broader attempt to minimize its significance, while expecting Africans “to not cling to it, but to look forward and forget about it.”

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“In America, there is a definitive process of erasure, especially under [US President Donald] Trump,” he stated.  

Earlier this month, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama accused Washington of “normalizing the erasure” of black history through measures such as book bans and restrictions on cultural institutions.

According to Godi, the initiative reflects an ongoing effort by African nations to secure what he described as “an equal share in the brotherhood and sisterhood of mankind.”

Echoing the concerns, Sikhumbuzo Enock Mdlalose of the South African Communist Party told RT that the issue of reparations is “a legitimate call” to address historical imbalances, stressing that slavery directly contributed to Africa’s underdevelopment while fueling the growth of Western economies. He argued that reparations could help African countries industrialize, create employment, and build self-sufficient economies.

READ MORE: Slavery recognition opens way for accountability – institute head

Last week, the UN General Assembly approved a resolution put forward by Ghana that labels the transatlantic slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity.” The document was backed by 123 countries, including Russia and China. The US, Israel, and Argentina voted against it, while 52 states – including the UK and several EU members – chose to abstain.