During the 9th Pan-African Congress in Lomé, a high-level panel was dedicated to the official presentation of the regional conferences held in preparation for the congress, which took place from December 8 to 12, 2025, in the Togolese capital.
This panel aimed to present the conclusions and recommendations stemming from the various regional meetings organized in 2023 and 2024.
The regions represented
Regional spokespeople presented the highlights of the work carried out in six distinct geographical areas:
- Southern Africa: Science, Technology, Innovation, and the Ubuntu Philosophy
- North Africa: Migration, Governance, and Identity
- East Africa: Africanophonie, Culture, and Education
- West Africa: Diaspora, People of African Descent, and Development
- Central Africa: Economic Integration and the AfCFTA
- Diaspora of the Americas: Memory, Reparation, and Justice
The panel’s six key messages
1. Africa is rebuilding itself through science and innovation
From Pretoria to Dar es Salaam, participants emphasized the importance of investing in research and developing educational systems adapted to African realities.
2. The diaspora is a strategic force
The diaspora plays a key role in the intellectual, economic, and cultural sovereignty of the African continent.
3. Migration: an opportunity, not a crisis
It is essential to transform migration into an opportunity for development and cooperation rather than perceiving it solely as a challenge.
4. Economic integration is urgent
Speakers called for accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the operationalization of pan-African financial institutions.
5. Cultural identity: a weapon of sovereignty
African languages, indigenous knowledge, and cultural industries must be placed at the heart of modern pan-Africanism.
6. Reparations and Historical Justice
Concrete proposals were formulated regarding reparations, restitution, and memory, as well as the role of people of African descent in historical justice.
Why this restitution is important
This restitution panel is of paramount importance for several reasons:
It establishes a common framework for the priorities of modern Pan-Africanism.
It creates a space for convergence among states, peoples, and diasporas.
It allows the public to take ownership of the pre-congress outcomes.
It constitutes a key step toward the Lomé Final Declaration.
Pour en savoir plus : Consultez le site officiel du congrès à l’adresse https://pac9-lome2024.com
Le 9e Congrès Panafricain se tient sous le thème : « Le renouveau du panafricanisme et le rôle de l’Afrique dans la réforme des institutions multilatérales : mobiliser les ressources et se réinventer pour agir. »