BIG calls on Belgium to take concrete steps toward reparations for Central African countries

Central African countries have been awaiting concrete steps from Belgium on the issue of reparations since around the 1960s, BIG Executive Director Abbas Abbasov told journalists, according to Report.

Abbasov said concrete measures need to be taken under international law to resolve the issue.

"One of the most important steps should be an official state-level apology from Belgium to the Central African countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Burundi. The next step should be to determine the amount of compensation for these countries and pay it in stages. Finally, one of the key steps should be a guarantee that Belgium will not interfere in the domestic political affairs of these countries, as well as the establishment of a legal mechanism to prevent the recurrence of colonial crimes," he said.

Abbasov stressed that civil society, alongside state institutions, should also contribute to efforts in this direction.

"This issue should be raised not only by state representatives on international platforms. Civil society institutions and UN bodies should also bring it up for discussion at various international forums," he noted.