Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Portugal’s president, acknowledged Portugal’s responsibility for crimes committed during the colonial era and the period of the slave trade.
Portugal’s colonial empire commenced in 1415 with the capture of Ceuta, a city in North Africa opposite Gibraltar, and concluded with the return of Macao to China.
Portugal has been involved in the trafficking of around 6 million Africans, surpassing any other European nation in this regard. This fact, which is seldom taught in Portuguese schools, highlights a failure, as noted by Reuters, to fully confront its historical past.
He also underscored the importance of reparations for these crimes, echoing a sentiment gaining momentum in numerous countries with similar historical injustices.
Until recently, Portugal’s colonial era was often regarded with pride, marked by conquering territories like Angola, Mozambique, Brazil, Cape Verde, and parts of India.
However, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa stated last year that Portugal should apologize for its involvement in the slave trade and colonialism, though he did not issue a full apology. He emphasized that acknowledging the past and assuming responsibility for it is paramount, surpassing the mere act of an apology.
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