Portugal President says country must pay reparations for slavery and colonial crimes

Portugal President says country must pay reparations for slavery and colonial crimes

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said that Portugal was responsible for crimes committed during transatlantic slavery and the colonial era, and suggested there was a need for reparations.

“We have to pay the costs,” Rebelo de Sousa said. Are there actions that were not punished and those responsible were not arrested?

Are there goods that were looted and not returned? Let’s see how we can repair this.”

The idea of paying reparations or making other amends for transatlantic slavery has been gaining momentum worldwide, including efforts to establish a special tribunal on the issue.