Mia Mottley’s Powerful Call for African-Caribbean Unity at the AU Summit

Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados delivered a powerful speech at the 38th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa on February 15, 2025. She emphasized the deep historical and cultural ties between Africa and the Caribbean, drawing on the Battle of Adwa as a defining moment that inspired Pan-Africanism and the fight against colonialism.

Mottley called for a renewed commitment to Pan-African unity, urging African and Caribbean nations to strengthen their connections and move beyond a history of sporadic engagement. She proposed direct air and sea links to facilitate trade and movement between the two regions, reducing dependence on external routes and intermediaries.

Addressing global challenges, she highlighted the climate crisis, which disproportionately affects vulnerable nations—especially in Africa and the Caribbean. As Chair of the V20, representing 70 climate-vulnerable countries, she made a case for urgent, collective action and called for reparative justice, demanding fair access to development financing and compensation for historical injustices.

A major announcement in her speech was the upcoming first in-person CARICOM–African Union Summit, set to take place in Addis Ababa on September 7, 2025. This summit aims to formalize collaboration and create opportunities between both regions in trade, investment, and cultural exchange.

In her closing remarks, she invoked the spirit of unity and resilience, urging leaders to rise above divisions and build a stable, prosperous future driven by African and Caribbean agency.