Baku: 'It is essential to approach the history of Belgium's colonial policy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi with sincerity, courage, and responsibility, while its consequences in the modern era should be assessed objectively,' said Francis Tshibalabala Mukunayi, a Member of the National Assembly of the Congo, during his speech at the international conference titled 'Belgium's Colonial Injustice and the 101-Year Path to Reparations,' held in Baku on August 21 and organized by the Baku Initiative Group.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the Congolese MP emphasized the importance of acknowledging history without seeking to rewrite it. 'We have not gathered here today to rewrite history. We are here to accept and recognize it. Our demand is not the erasure of the past, but the recognition of history itself. We do not call for revenge; we call for justice, truth, and dignity,' he noted.

The conference aimed to shed light on the lasting impacts of Belgium's colonial rule in the African nations and to discuss pathways to reparations. Mukunayi's speech underscored the need for a transparent and honest dialogue about the colonial past and its implications in today's world.