On November 29, 1781, Captain Luke Collingwood was confronted with a grave dilemma while commanding the ship Zong, which had departed from Accra carrying 442 Africans intended for sale into slavery. The Zong’s crew had become disoriented during the voyage to Jamaica, leading to critical conditions on board, with many of the captives suffering from disease and dehydration. As they neared their destination, the crew realized that if these individuals perished on land, it would represent a financial loss for the ship’s owners. Conversely, if they were classified as “lost at sea,” the insurance would cover the associated costs. Consequently, over 130 people were cast overboard, beginning with those deemed less valuable, such as women and children. When this incident was examined in court two years later, the primary contention revolved around whether this act negated the insurance payout, with no consideration given to whether it constituted a criminal act by the legal and financial institutions in London at the time.
This dark chapter in Britain’s history of slavery resurfaced in the news recently with the response from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK to a well-supported United Nations resolution acknowledging the historic injustices of slavery. The party announced its intention to deny all UK visas to individuals from nations pursuing reparations from Britain, specifically targeting countries like Nigeria, Jamaica, and Ghana, from which the Zong had embarked centuries ago.
It is noteworthy that Reform UK was originally established as the Brexit party, with Farage advocating for a renewed connection with the “kith and kin in the Commonwealth.” This raises questions about the commitment to fostering relationships with the “2.2 billion people” within the Commonwealth based on shared language, culture, and history. A decade after the Brexit referendum, Reform’s proposed punitive measures against countries seeking reparations highlight the ongoing struggles Britain faces in adapting to an evolving and divided global landscape.
Reparations have been recognized as a legitimate aspect of international law for over a century, supported by various treaties and legal frameworks. The UN has established guidelines that specify when violations of international human rights law warrant remedies and reparations. Countries such as Germany have made reparative payments related to the Holocaust and committed to aid payments to Namibia for the Herero-Nama genocide.
Britain is not the only nation that has encountered potential claims for reparations; it is also not the sole focus of current proposals from West African and Caribbean nations. Countries are entitled to present claims if they believe they have valid grounds. While accepting or challenging these claims is within a nation’s rights, employing threats to deter claims from being brought before a court undermines the principles of democracy and the rule of law, reflecting a troubling attitude.
Through its reaction to countries that are part of the Commonwealth, Reform UK has demonstrated a failure among portions of Britain’s political elite to recognize former colonies as equal sovereign states. This disconnect became glaringly evident when civil servants labeled the post-Brexit trade strategy as Empire 2.0 and expressed confusion over the lack of enthusiasm from Commonwealth nations to engage in trade agreements. It is impossible to leverage a “shared history” if one party is unwilling to acknowledge the differing experiences that shape that history.
In terms of economic growth, demographic trends, and geopolitical dynamics, the 21st century increasingly favors nations that were once British colonies over Britain itself. In 2024, the UK established a significant trade and investment partnership with Nigeria, promoting seamless trade with a nation recognized for its rapidly expanding economy, as noted by former business and trade secretary Kemi Badenoch.
Imposing a blanket visa prohibition on Nigeria could adversely affect British enterprises invested in establishing partnerships there, as well as universities that are striving to attract students from this rapidly growing, English-speaking nation. In 2022, over 44,000 Nigerian students enrolled in UK institutions, making Nigeria the third-largest source of international students in the UK, a number that continues to rise. Would the British higher education system be able to absorb the loss of such talent? Furthermore, if Jamaica were to respond to Reform UK’s visa ban by imposing restrictions on British citizens, it could prove unpopular among the 230,000 British tourists who visit the island annually. Tough rhetoric may seem appealing, but it could jeopardize the leisure plans of many. British politicians have already expressed concerns about Caribbean nations gravitating towards China, a trend likely to accelerate in light of threats from Reform UK.
The discourse surrounding reparations extends beyond rectifying historical injustices; it encompasses the establishment of terms for present and future relations. By examining precedents set by other nations, it becomes evident that reparations are not solely about financial compensation but could also encompass innovative initiatives, such as the patent-free sharing of green energy technology and the equitable distribution of voting power in international financial institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
