By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News
Caribbean Delegation to Press Reparations Case in Brussels and London
A high-level Caribbean delegation will travel to Brussels and London next month to push forward the decades-long demand for reparations for slavery and colonialism. The mission is being organized by the Repair Campaign, a regional advocacy group supported by CARICOM and the African Union (AU).
From the 15th to the 19th centuries, at least 12.5 million Africans were kidnapped and sold into slavery via European ships. While calls for reparations are not new, they have gained renewed global momentum in recent years.
The delegation will first visit Brussels on July 1, where a briefing will be held with European Union lawmakers. In 2023, the EU acknowledged that Europe inflicted “untold suffering” on millions, but no member state has agreed to pay reparations. The group will then head to London on July 2, where they will continue discussions in the UK Parliament.
Nigeria and Brazil Sign $1 Billion Development Deal
Nigeria and Brazil have signed a $1 billion bilateral agreement aimed at boosting agriculture, food security, energy, and defense. The pact was signed in Abuja during a visit by Brazil’s Vice President Geraldo Alckmin to Africa’s most populous country.
Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima stated that the funds will be utilized to introduce mechanized farming equipment, establish training programs, and establish service centers nationwide. Most farming in Nigeria is small-scale and family-owned, limiting productivity. The country also heavily imports food to feed its population of over 200 million people.
Colombia Rescues 57 Troops Held by Guerrillas
In Colombia, security forces have successfully rescued 57 soldiers who were detained for two days by armed guerrilla groups in the mountainous El Plateado region, located in the Cauca province.
According to the military, the region is a strategic zone for drug trafficking. It has long been controlled by a dissident faction of the FARC, the former rebel group that rejected the country’s 2016 peace deal. Authorities say the group has been recruiting minors and pressuring locals to resist the presence of state forces.
