APIA, Samoa — On Friday, King Charles of Britain emphasized the importance of recognizing the Commonwealth’s “painful” history, especially as many African and Caribbean nations press for reparations concerning Britain’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade.

Delegates from 56 nations, primarily descendants of Britain’s former empire, are gathering for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) that commenced in Samoa on Monday.

“I realize how the most painful aspects of our shared past continue to affect people across the Commonwealth,” King Charles stated during his address at the summit.

“Thus, it is crucial that we acknowledge our history to help us make better decisions moving forward,” he added.

The call for Britain to provide reparations or offer some form of restitution for the legacy of slavery has been longstanding, but it has gained recent traction, particularly within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the African Union.

Supporters of reparations argue that the consequences of slavery have created ongoing and significant racial disparities today, while opponents believe that nations should not be held accountable for past injustices.

On Monday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated the government would hear from nations wishing to address this issue during the summit, but he dismissed the idea of apologizing for Britain’s historical involvement in the slave trade.

Frederick Mitchell, the Foreign Minister of the Bahamas, informed the BBC on Thursday that the draft conclusions for the summit, which are expected to be released on Saturday, include calls for discussions about reparations.

From the 15th to the 19th centuries, approximately 12.5 million Africans were forcibly taken from their homes by European traders and sold into slavery.

The survivors of these harsh journeys were frequently subjected to grueling labor under horrific conditions on plantations in the Americas, with many others benefiting from their exploitation.

“We have shown an unmatched capacity to confront the difficult history that united us and to gather as equals for 75 years,” remarked Commonwealth Secretary-General Baroness Patricia Scotland, a British diplomat and lawyer originally from Dominica, during the summit.