Nigeria Seeks Colonialism, Slavery Provisions in UN Crimes Treaty

 

By Atlantic Reports

Nigeria has called for colonialism, slavery, the slave trade and the exploitation of natural and mineral resources to be covered by a proposed international treaty on crimes against humanity.

The delegation presented its position on Monday at the 11th plenary meeting of the United Nations General Assembly’s Sixth Committee, which deals with legal matters.

Nigeria’s Permanent Representative, Ambassador Ibrahim Jimoh, represented by Emmanuel Nweke, supported the African Group’s position while seeking additional provisions on historical injustices, international accountability and state responsibilities.

The proposals remain subjects for negotiation. They are not provisions of an adopted treaty.

Historical injustices and accountability

Nigeria backed the African Group’s demand for slavery and the slave trade to be expressly included in the convention. It also reiterated its earlier proposal to include colonialism and resource exploitation.

The delegation cited General Assembly Resolution 80/250, adopted on March 25, which it said recognised the trafficking and racialised enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.

According to the delegation, the Ghana-sponsored resolution received 123 votes in favour, three against and 52 abstentions.

Nigeria also referred to the African Union’s designation of 2026–2035 as the Decade of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.

It argued that the proposed convention should give legal effect to international recognition of those historical injustices. The supplied account did not explain how the requested provisions would address jurisdiction, the periods covered or possible remedies.

Retaining the Rome Statute definition

Nigeria urged negotiators to retain the definition of crimes against humanity in Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, including its provision concerning gender.

As a party to the Rome Statute, Nigeria argued that departing from the existing definition could create inconsistencies between international legal instruments and weaken support for the convention.

The delegation also cited the Malabo Protocol on the Statute of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights, saying African legal experience and jurisprudence should inform the treaty’s terminology and scope.

Its position combines support for the Rome Statute definition with demands for additional coverage. How those proposals would fit together remains a question for negotiations.

State duties and international cooperation

Nigeria maintained that governments had primary responsibility for preventing and punishing crimes against humanity and that perpetrators must face accountability.

It called for international cooperation to respect sovereign equality, territorial integrity and non-interference, with priority given to national jurisdiction, mutual legal assistance and extradition consistent with international law.

The delegation also proposed that countries providing financial, military or other assistance to governments committing crimes against humanity should be required to discontinue that support.

States that failed to do so should face accountability under explicit treaty provisions, it argued. The account did not set out the proposed legal threshold for establishing such responsibility.

Nigeria welcomed preparations for the second session of the treaty’s Preparatory Committee, scheduled for April 12–15, 2027, at UN Headquarters in New York.

It reaffirmed its commitment to negotiations ahead of diplomatic conferences planned for 2028 and 2029, seeking a convention with broad international support.

The central task for negotiators will be to translate these demands into precise legal obligations, including clear definitions, jurisdictional rules and mechanisms for accountability.

Atlantic Reports: Voices. People. Facts.