CARICOM Member States to Participate in Pan African Congress Event

CARICOM Member States will join the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Fifth Pan‑African Congress on 9th of December, from 3–5 pm, alongside participants from the African Union and across the African diaspora. This occasion is both a tribute to history and a reaffirmation of CARICOM’s enduring commitment to African–Caribbean solidarity.

The Fifth Pan‑African Congress

The Fifth Pan-African Congress was held in Manchester in October 1945, marking a decisive turning point in global anti‑colonial movements. Over 200 delegates from Africa, the Caribbean, and the wider diaspora demanded an end to colonial rule and called for universal suffrage alongside racial equality. These resolutions provided intellectual and organizational foundations for independence movements throughout the latter half of the 20th century.

Caribbean leaders played a pivotal role in shaping the Congress’s agenda and legacy. Trinidadian activist George Padmore was central to organizing the event, while Amy Ashwood Garvey spotlighted issues of gender and diaspora unity. Other Caribbean delegates, including Rupert Gittens of Barbados and Guyana‑born T. Ras Makonnen, ensured that Caribbean voices were embedded in the call for decolonization. Their contributions would help link the struggles of African nations with those of the Caribbean, forging a bridge between the regions that continues to resonate today as seen in initiatives like the Afrexim Bank and AU-CARICOM Summits