Colonialism has left deep scars in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Burundi, with the consequences of systematic economic exploitation, mass violence and the destruction of local communities and institutions still being felt today, Abbas Abbasov, Executive Director of the Baku Initiative Group (BIG), said Friday, Report informs.
Speaking at an international conference titled "101 Years of Belgian Colonial Injustices and the Struggle for Reparations," organized by the BIG in Baku, Abbasov noted that the struggle against colonialism is not based on personal opinion but on history documented and recognized by numerous researchers, legal experts and international institutions.
"What brings us together today is no longer the question of whether this injustice existed. The key question is how the international community, the relevant states and Belgium itself can take steps toward genuine recognition and concrete reparations. This includes restitution, compensation and guarantees that such cases will not happen again," Abbasov said.