Belgium found guilty of crimes against humanity in colonial Congo
GuardianNOV 2024
Belgium Found Guilty of Crimes Against Humanity in Congo
Above: Lea Tavares Mujinga (3L), Simone Vandenbroecke Ngalula (5L), Monique Bitu Bingi, Noelle Verbeken, and Marie Jose Loshi during a hearing in the case of Belgian-Congolese women against the Belgian State, in Brussels on Oct. 14, 2021. Image copyright: HADRIEN DURE/Contributor/Belga/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Acknowledging the profound harm caused by colonial exploitation, former imperial powers must confront their histories and make reparations — financial and symbolic — to their victims. Reparations are not mere charity but a moral obligation to redress stolen wealth, lives, and dignity. They can begin to heal the enduring scars of imperial violence and injustice.
Narrative B
The call for reparations faces insurmountable barriers of fairness, practicality, and historical nuance. Deciding eligibility amid a tapestry of mixed ancestries and global migrations just creates endless disputes. Solutions should prioritize broad, forward-looking strategies to combat systemic inequities rather than abstract arguments to provide concrete financial compensation.