ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has called for unity and resilience to overcome historical injustices the African people went through during the colonial period.

Abiy made the call during the 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of the Heads of State and Government Saturday at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.

The two-day summit, which brought together leaders from AU members, is underway under the theme "Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations."

"The demand for reparations is not about charity or financial aid; it is a call for justice. It seeks to restore the dignity of millions and heal the deep scars of poverty, inequality, and discrimination," Abiy said.

He said Africa finds itself at a crossroad of uncertainty and opportunity, requiring collective resolve, resilience, and unity to overcome historical injustices that hindered the progress of the continent.

In a concept note, the AU stated that legacies of colonialism, trans-Atlantic slavery, apartheid, and systemic racial discrimination have left socio-economic, cultural, and psychological scars across the African people.

The prime minister also stressed the need for Africa to pool its resources and talents to unlock its full potential. The promotion of digital inclusion in Africa, such as artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI, offers unprecedented opportunities to transform economies and societies. Enditem

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