By Wellington Jopelo
The UK could impose visa restrictions on several African and Caribbean nations, including Nigeria and Jamaica, if Reform UK wins the next general election.
The move targets countries that have formally demanded reparations for slavery. Zia Yusuf, Reform UK’s home affairs spokesperson, argued that “enough is enough” after years of visas and foreign aid flowing to nations pressing for reparations.
Other countries potentially affected include Kenya, Haiti, Guyana, Barbados, and The Bahamas. The announcement follows a UN resolution urging former colonial powers to make amends for slavery, calling the forced displacement of Africans one of the “gravest crimes against humanity.”
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, dismissed the UN call, saying it had no authority over the UK. The party also pledged to cut foreign aid to £1 billion annually, a drastic reduction from current levels.
The UK Foreign Office said it acknowledges the horrors of slavery but maintains its current stance on reparations. Opposition leader Keir Starmer also ruled out payments or apologies.
Historically, millions of Africans were captured, transported, and enslaved across the Americas and Europe, leaving deep social and cultural scars. Modern reparations campaigns, led by Ghana and CARICOM countries, seek official apologies, restitution of cultural artifacts, and reparatory justice.
In March-April 2026, the UN General Assembly recognised the transatlantic slave trade as the “gravest crime against humanity,” with 123 votes in favour, 3 against, and 52 abstentions. The resolution calls for reparations and was supported by Ghana, CARICOM, the African Union, Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana, and Haiti.