$5,000 NEEDED RIGHT NOW! PLEASE DONATE
“As has already been manifested by your endeavours the people themselves must come to realize their own difficulties in the development of their community and try to solve them by collective participation following an order of priority and taking their potentiality into account.”
H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, January 12, 1963
SIPHIWE BALEKA NEEDS YOUR HELP TO ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING:
Travel on May 9th (starting at 4:00 am) over land from Bissau, Guinea Bissau to Banjul, Gambia (298 km, 7 hour jouney) to accept the invitation to speak on the theme, “The plight of afro-descendants: Slave trade, ancestral disruptions, tracing family roots and reclaiming ancestry” at a Panel Discussion on the AU Theme of the Year 2025 -Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations, which will be held in Banjul, the Gambia on 10 May 2025, at 14:30 -15:30 during the 83'd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) per ACHPR/Res.616 (LXXXI) 2024 . [See Invitation and Concept Note below].
Over the course of three days, present to ACHPR:
The New Afrikan Diplomatic and Civil Service Corps Initial Plebiscite Survey Early Analysis that reveals that 90% of the African Americans surveyed would participate in a plebiscite recognized by the United Nations or the African Union that would give each African American of voting age the chance to choose among the four options: (1) return to their ancestral homeland, (2) the creation of a new African nation on American soil, (3) emigration to another country or (4) United States citizenship. It also reveals that 75% of the respondents would take the African Ancestry DNA test if provided free of charge as a form of reparations.
the Proposal for Enhanced Engagement with, and the Integration of The African Historic Diaspora in all African Member States Under the Right To Return Declaration [see proposal below]
the African Diaspora in Tanzania Survey Report of 35 Repatriates’ cases in Tanzania
the African Diaspora in Ethiopia Report on the Condition of Repatriates in Ethiopia
continue the lobbying efforts to the Africa Judges and Jurists Forum [AJJF], Minority Rights Group International [MRG], Pan-African Lawyers Union [PALU], Reform Initiative [RI] to participate in collecting Input on the Request for an Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice on the Status of Afro Descendants Under the Geneva Convention
continue the consultation with Ambassador Luvuyo Ndimeni of The Republic of South Africa (RSA) - who will be on the Panel with Siphiwe Baleka - on the Right of Return and the Request for an Advisory Opinon from the International Court of Justice that was presented in the CONCEPT NOTE FOR SOUTH AFRICAN PERMANENT MISSION IN GENEVA submitted by Mr. Baleka following consultation with H.E. Thembela Ngculu and Portia Mngomezulu during the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, April 17, 2024
Expected Outcome: Next steps/Mechanism for implementation of the Proposal for Enhanced Engagement with, and the Integration of The African Historic Diaspora in all African Member States Under the Right To Return Declaration; twenty (20) completed Request for ICJ Advisory Opinion Input forms and next steps/mechanism for working with the South African government in submitting the Request for an Advisory Opinion from the ICJ; Nextsteps/Mecnahinism for providing DNA testing to Afro Descendants.
3. Travel back to Bissau early on the morning of May 12th to assit the passport document processing for four members of the Decade of Return group that have already received their citizenship. That same day, there is a Special African Diaspora Consultations on the 2025 AU Theme of the Year with AU ECOSOCC at which I will report via Zoom on the outcome of the ACHPR Consultations.
4. Take a flight on May 21st or 22nd to Rome, Italy to accept the invitation to present on Panel 3: The Gospel and cultures: towards cultural valorization and reconciliation in Africa today. at the Symposium “Burning themes of the Christian Mission in Africa: A Dialogical Re-reading of History for New Paths of Fruitful Evangelization in Today’s Africa!” organized by the OMNES GENTES, the association of students of the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome on May 23, 2025.
5. Over the next three days, as part of the Global Circle Interreligious Actors Working Group (GCIAG) of the Global Circle for Reparations and Healing (GCRH) delegation invited to join the Teaching Artist Institute delegation at the Symposium
Continue the consultation initiated with the PRESENTMENT TO THE HOLY SEE IN FURTHERANCE OF REPARATIONS delivered to Bishop Paul Tighe, Secretary of the Pontifical Council of Culture, along with his assistant, in a formal meeting at the Vatican on July 18, 2022.
Submit Reparations Now: A Global Framework for Catholic Accountability and Reparative Justice for the African Diaspora [see below] and discuss mechanisms for implementing Section VIII. Expanded Recommendations for Lineage Restoration, Repatriation, and Global Catholic Engagement through
A. Lineage Restoration and the Right to Return;
B. Vatican-Led Multilateral Repatriation and Decade of Return Programs starting with the Proposal to Include the Balantas in Colombia in the Decade of Return Initiative to Guinea Bissau and providing DNA Testing for Lineage Verification:; and
C. Engagement Strategy for the Global Catholic Church that would
Activate Catholic dioceses across Africa as partners in reparations education, DNA testing initiatives, pilgrimage coordination, and social support for returnees. These branches are best positioned culturally and logistically to lead implementation and offer guidance;
Organize recurring Vatican-hosted synods with participation from clergy, reparations activists, Afro-descendant leaders, and African theologians. The goal is to coordinate Church-wide action and unify doctrine and practice around restitution and reconciliation;
Create a permanent office within the Vatican dedicated to reparations and diaspora relations. This office would oversee project execution, maintain relationships with African governments, and fund long-term reparative projects such as schools, clinics, and housing in repatriation zones.
7. Following the summit, use the momentum to activate the Guinea Bissau National Reparations Commission (GBNRC) started by Siphiwe Baleka and Professor Jose Lingna Nafafe who is also presenting at the Symposium in Rome. The GBNR will:
Work with the Decade of Return Initiative in Guinea Bissau and the Pan African Council to implement the Proposal to Include the Balantas in Colombia in the Decade of Return Initiative to Guinea Bissau [See: B. Vatican-Led Multilateral Repatriation and Decade of Return Programs above and proposal below]
Inspire and encourage the formation of National Reparations Commissions in Angola, Mozambique, Sao Tome & Principe and Brazil to comprise the regional Lusophone Africa Reparations Commission to work alongsid the CARICOM Reparations Commission and the African Union.
To achieve all this on behalf of Afro Descendant People, Siphiwe Baleka needs $5,000 to pay for all transportation expenses, hotel accomodations, registration fees, visas, food and other expenses.
Translation of Letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Guinea Bissau, May 6, 2024
Greetings Your Excellency, As you are aware, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa recently declared that Portugal is responsible for the crimes committed during the transatlantic slavery and colonial era and that it must pay the costs. This suggests the payment of reparations to the people and territories that were victimized, which naturally includes Guinea-Bissau. The media has already reported that the President of Cape Verde, His Excellency Mr José Maria Neves, said on Monday that there was a need for discussion to "reach an understanding and consensus on these matters". On the other hand, the Minister of Education and Culture of São Tomé and Príncipe, Isabel Abreu, stated that her country will ask Portugal to make reparations for the moral damage caused by colonialism. We have already drafted a response to President Sousa and are prepared to launch an appeal for the creation of a National Reparations Commission for Guinea-Bissau - see attached documents. To that end, please invite us to meet with Your Excellency to discuss this and any other way we can help the government obtain reparations.
Sincerely,
Dr. José Lingna Nafafé, Senior Lecturer in Lusophone Studies Department of Hispanic, Portuguese and Latin American Studies, University of Bristol, UK
Siphiwe Baleka, Coordinator, Decade of Return Initiative
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A lot of people are discussiong reparations now, especially since the African Union designated 2025 as its year of “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations” and the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent focused on Reparations during its recent 4th Session in New York. Siphiwe Baleka, however, has been doing more than just talk and as you can see from the above, is well PREPARED to lead the discussion and REPRESENT THE PEOPLE. Siphiwe Baleka is not employed by any government or institution and receives no grant funding. All the work being done by Siphiwe Baleka over the past five years has been self funded or supported by donationas from THE PEOPLE themselves. In this way, Siphiwe Baleka remains independent and is only accountable to THE PEOPLE, especially those that continue with their generous donations. This is the kind of independent, Pan African work that is needed. This is the reason Siphiwe Baleka has developed a reputation for outstanding scholarship that is thoroughly documented and provided for free to THE PEOPLE. It is for the sake of transparency and inclusion that so much is documented. The various campaigns are all coming to a climax in this themed year of “Reparations.” Make sure Siphiwe Baleka can take his seat at the table on behalf of the Afro Descendant peoples.
Though invited to speak and present at these events, NO FUNDING is being provided, thus the need for THE PEOPLES’s support through donations.
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“You have learnt from your study of history that the story of nations is often told in terms of the accomplishment of individuals. In every significant event in history you will find a courageous and determined leader, an inspiring goal or objective, and an adversary who sought to spoil his efforts.
- Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie on Leadership, July 17, 1959
“Nations and individuals alike are often more accurately judged not only by what they accomplished, but by what they attempted. A noble failure may be of more value than a petty success.”
- H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, November 22, 1963
“Today, We also accept as an undenied and undeniable part of modern Ethiopian life the principle that a man’s ultimate worth is determined by his ability and his achievements. Let us, from the greatest to the least, take pride in the performance of the tasks and duties assigned to us, whether or not we believe them worthy of our talents, whether we labour silent and alone, or in the crowd and illuminated by the glaring light of public opinion.
The reward for job well done is not the recognition of others, or in public praise. Neither is it to be measured solely by the monetary return earned by the workman.
For a job truly well done, in fullness and a whole heart, can never be measured by monetary rewards. Neither will there be satisfaction in the recognition of others or public praise for doing a good job.
But, the true satisfaction will come from within, knowing that you gave your utmost best, your everything into the job. This comes from knowing you were able to carry out a task and completing it. This comes from knowing no man can take that away from you, only Jah.”
- H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, November 17, 1964
“What you have here begun, remains to be finished, and he who gives up before the whole task is accomplished reserves for himself not joy and reward, but despair and blame richly deserved. So today marks the end only of the first chapter in the book of your attainments, and your joy, like your achievement, is incomplete.
Once you’ve accomplished a task set out before you, you’ll then realize you’ve grown. You’ve become bigger than the situation, therefore a new challenge, a new goal will arise.
It will come as a reflection of you’re no longer where you once were, but now somewhere different. Welcome this growth.
The way will be perilous, sacrifices will be demanded of us, our labours may go unobserved and our triumphs unnoticed except to ourselves. [I]n the ultimate sense, this is wholly as it should be, for we are men and this is man’s lot.
Once one has decided upon his life’s goal, one of a selfless cause, he will no doubt go through a rough battle. He will face many adversities, many obstacles, many trials and tribulations. Sacrifices will have to be made, and in many times unnoticed.
We who have dedicated our lives for something greater than ourselves, knows all too well, this is our destiny. We are greater than just being acknowledge for what, by right is our natural way of life.”
- H.I.M. Haile Selassie I, July 1, 1967