False Promises, False Hopes: The Africa-CARICOM Summit

Tennyson S.D. Joseph

14 May 2025

Photo: CARICOM

A forward-looking critique of African and Caribbean collaborations embodied in the Africa-Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Summit.

Originally published in Pambazuka.

Given the importance of autonomous African and Diasporic pan-African relations as an indispensable tool for responding to the challenges of an increasingly volatile global economy, it is compelling that Pan-Africanists fan any sparks that may appear in the fading embers of African-diasporic relations. One such spark was the first ever Africa-CARICOM Summit on September 7th 2021, held under the promising theme of “Unity Across Continents and Oceans: Opportunities for Deepening Integration”.

In this commentary, I offer a critical analysis of the summit, relying largely on the aspirations and objectives outlined in the official communique but also by engaging in a broader discussion of the future possibilities for Africa-CARICOM Pan-African engagement. In my analysis, I outline the main proposals for future action promised in the communique, highlighting: (a) the hopes for heightened pan-African engagement ushered in by the conference; and (b) the failed promises and disappointments arising out of the failure to fulfil the stated objectives of the summit. The analysis will close with (c) an expression of likely future expected outcomes given ongoing efforts to pursue unfulfilled promises of the summit.

Window for Hope: The First Encounter

It is important to highlight that the first ever Africa-Caribbean (specifically, AU-CARICOM) summit was held in online format. This had the advantage of making the summit available to the widest possible African and diasporic audience. It was fascinating to witness in real time speeches from at least eight African and eight Caribbean leaders, and observing their interactions as they addressed common issues independently of the overbearing imperialist and neo-colonial frameworks of organizations like the Commonwealth, Françafrique or the UN General Assembly. It also provided a rare opportunity to discern their political personalities, and to judge who among them possessed the more developed pan-African consciousness on one hand, and who, on the other, did not treat Africa-Caribbean relations as a development or foreign policy priority. To paraphrase Bob Marley, the meeting provided a rare insight into “who are the real revolutionaries”.

The holding of the first Africa-CARICOM summit was largely due to the energy of Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya (Chairman of the AU in 2021), under whose chairmanship the summit was convened. In addition, while at the time of the meeting Gaston Browne of Antigua served as CARICOM chairman, it cannot be denied that it was Mia Mottley of Barbados, who from the Caribbean end, matched Kenyatta’s commitment to the meeting. Kenyatta and Mottley, in the months prior to the summit, had chalked up a respectable record of bilateral initiatives.[1] Uhuru Kenyatta visited Barbados in October 2019 and Mottley engaged in a reciprocal visit in December of that year, where she accepted the offer of dedicated CARICOM office space in a prominent building in Kenya.[2] In the same period, Mottley had also visited Ghana in November 2019.[3] The active presence of Barbados and Mottley in these heightened Caribbean-Africa moments can be attributed to the behind-the-scenes activism influence of personalities like David Commissiong and Trevor Prescod (MP) who for several years had been among the leading pan-Africanists in Barbados.

There was therefore much happening from 2018 which had injected optimism and hope in the possibilities for Africa-Caribbean relations leading up to the September 2021 Summit. Significantly, a key feature of the period was the COVID-19 pandemic which had imposed the urgency of Africa-Caribbean cooperation more frontally upon the leadership and popular consciousness. One of the pre-summit high points which fueled the “one love vibes” pervading the summit, was Africa’s role in aiding Caribbean governments in acquiring cheaper access to COVID-19 vaccines on the global market. As one report of the meeting observed: “most of the leaders referred to the success of the Africa Medical Supplies Platform (AMSP)” which was “run by a South African-created task force which co-ordinated the purchase of medical supplies under African Union Special Envoy, Strive Masiyiwa.” According to the report,

“Mr Masiyiwa explained to leaders that, in the face of the growing problem of accessing Covid vaccines when supplies had “already been hoarded”, the AMSP had negotiated upfront financing for the purchase of vaccines for Africa and the Caribbean. He said that the programme had arranged a US$3bn funding facility through the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank). This raised 50% of the necessary upfront funding with the remaining 50% of purchasing power coming from donor institutions.[4]

The context in which the first AU-CARICOM summit was held therefore offered several grounds for optimism.

Cause for Worry: 64 Years Late

While on the surface, the 1st Africa-CARICOM summit offered the promise of heightened Pan-African collective development, there are several features of the surrounding moment which provide cause for caution.

Principal among these concerns is why it took so long to hold the first ever summit of the independent black states. Forgotten amidst the self-congratulation is that the summit was held roughly 70-50 years after the long “decade” Africa and Caribbean independence (Ghana 1957 and St. Kitts/Nevis 1983). No clearer evidence of the neo-colonial nature of the independence of the black world is required than failure of African and Caribbean states to develop the collective self-confidence and political consciousness to hold a summit to discuss their common problems prior to 2021. Given its long delay, any impulse to view the 1st Africa-CARICOM summit as an achievement, is replaced by a sense of disappointment since it lays bare the betrayal of the Pan-African promise.

Instead of viewing the summit as a high point of Africa-Caribbean relations, it can better be seen as indicative of a halting emergence from a low point. Indeed, when the several decades of Pan-African organization between Africa and the Caribbean beginning in the early 1900s are taken into consideration (a point acknowledged in the summit communique)[5], then the Africa-Caribbean summit of 2021 can be seen as a minor correction to a gaping historical failure. There is no “good” explanation for why it took more than 60 years for the sovereign states of Africa and the Caribbean to appreciate the political importance of formally organizing themselves into a political bloc for purposes of domestic and foreign policy solidarity.

The Summit Communique

It is necessary to highlight the main proposals from the official summit communique before proceeding with a more detailed analysis of its signs of hope, its failures, and future aspirations.

The meeting identified its overall objective as being the affirmation of the “bonds of ancestry and friendship between Africa and CARICOM” and the need to “build a foundation for lasting robust socio-economic and political engagements as well as partnerships between the two regions for a collective prosperous future”. It outlined several specific initiatives in pursuit of these objectives:

The establishment, within the spirit of “South-South Cooperation” of an “electronic mass media platform to facilitate flow of information, news and artistic programming, and to collectively endeavour to enhance food security, exploit the blue economy and technology”. for the advancement and prosperity of African and Caribbean people.
The coming into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as the avenue for the flow of trade and investments across the two regions
The fostering of increased trade, investment, air travel, maritime shipping links with a view to realizing greater economic integration and enhanced people to people contact, by fostering closer cultural, educational, scientific and sports relations between Africa and Caribbean people
The establishment of a Multilateral Air Services Agreement… to review the requirement for travel visas, and establish regular weekly direct flights between African and Caribbean regions.
The institutionalization of cooperation between Africa and CARICOM and the diaspora by designating September 7th of every year as Africa-CARICOM Day [through the] setting up a dedicated Secretariat/Structure and holding annual Africa-CARICOM Summits on September 7th.
The institutionalizing of the partnership within six months [through the respective Secretariats] to facilitate adoption of the governance constitutive statutes at the 2nd Summit in 2022.

Reasons for Hope and Optimism

There is much cause for hopeful salivation from this enticing menu of objectives. The reiteration of familiar pan-African and South-South objectives of trade cooperation, common free trade spaces and maritime and air travel links has offered some assurance that our African and Caribbean leaders are aware of the historical and technical requirements for Pan-African development. Equally re-assuring are their expressions of commitment to fostering people to people artistic, cultural and sporting links.

Beyond these “on paper” commitments, far more gratifying have been the concrete examples of action in the realization of these objectives. The operationalisation of the African Export Import Bank’s (Afreximbank) activities in the Caribbean, formalised by the granting of a free land grant for the setting up of the 180 million US “first-ever state-of-the-art Afreximbank African Trade Centre (AATC) in the Caribbean” as an “an authentic icon of trade embodying the ambition, resilience, and influence of leading commercial cities in Africa and the Caribbean that serve as dynamic focal points for commerce, fostering regional and global trade connections,” is one such concrete action.[6]

(The Euphoria over this initiative was however dampened by the misinformed partisan protests by sections of the Barbadian public over Mia Mottley’s decision to hand over “free land” to the Afreximbank. Given the many colonial giveaways to European investors which have been met with nary a whimper, there is clearly the need for much political education work to rid our peoples of the ingrained Afro-Phobia and self-hate burned into our consciousness by the five centuries of colonial oppression and mis-education).[7]

A similarly positive concrete step has been the actualization of the commitment to fostering greater levels of people to people artistic, cultural and sporting exchanges, as seen for example in the anticipated participation of at least two African delegations in the CARIFESTA activities in Barbados from August 22-25, 2025.

Failures and False Promises

While the above achievements are laudable, it cannot be denied that far more progress could have been achieved had there been greater levels of political will.

Most glaring is the failure to achieve the minimum objective of organising the second summit. There would have been no stronger proof of institutional continuity, political commitment and seriousness of purpose of African and Caribbean leaders than the timely organization of the second summit. Linked to the goal of the 2nd summit was the commitment to designate September 7th as Africa-CARICOM Day, and the mobilisation of the respective secretariats (AU and CARICOM) to conclude an MOU which was to be signed at the sidelines of the expected UNCTAD meeting which was anticipated to be held in Barbados in October 2021.

None of these objectives were achieved by the stated deadlines.These are unforgivable failures since having whetted pan-African appetites with the organizing of the first summit, our leaders have set us further back by failing to organize the second. It is like feeding a starving man a small dry biscuit – it exacerbates rather than addresses his hunger.

A related and significant failure is that, despite the grandiose goals set by the summit, there is no evidence of any institutional alignment within CARICOM to facilitate a new Africa-centric focus. Linked to this, is the failure to undertake the necessary administrative steps that would allow for the strengthening of the Africa-CARICOM relations. While the AU has a vibrant Diaspora agenda, there is no designated Africa focal point or section in CARICOM. There is no “Africa” expert in CARICOM. Based on my cursory research, there is only one senior official within the CARICOM Secretariat, Deputy Secretary General Armstrong Alexis, who has lived and worked in Africa for an extended period, but he has no Africa-specific responsibilities.

One positive note, following my personal enquiries, I have been assured that the 2nd Africa-CARICOM Summit will be held on September 7th 2025, in Addis Ababa. An announcement to that effect was made in the Communique of the CARICOM Heads of Government Summit in February 2025.[8] I have also been informed that the MOU promised for December 2021 was signed on the sidelines of the UN Heads of Government meeting in March 2025.

In addition to the failure to hold the 2nd Africa Caribbean summit there are other obvious broken promises. Principal among these is the proposed establishment of an electronic mass media platform to facilitate common news and artistic programming, and the establishment of weekly regular direct flights between Africa and the Caribbean. The failure to achieve these basic technical deliverables which can facilitate people to people contact between Africa and the Caribbean remains a continuing glaring failure. It is hoped that the 2025 Africa-CARICOM summit will correct these deficiencies and commit to achieving tangible goals which will benefit the peoples of the Black world.

Future Expectations

African peoples have had such a long history of dashed Pan-African hopes that sceptic-based criticism has become an instinctive response to any new initiatives. However, despite this historical distrust, it must be acknowledged that the holding of the first Africa-CARICOM summit set an important foundation upon which future integration initiatives can be launched. The promised second summit in Addis Ababa on September 7th 2025, will reveal whether the “one step forward, two steps backward” experience persists, or whether we have genuinely crossed a threshold into a renewed era of Africa-CARICOM cooperation necessary for our collective survival and success. As we look to the second Africa-CARICOM summit, it is expected that the gaps and weaknesses which have emerged since the first summit will be addressed. Some possible remedial steps might include:

The articulation of a more robust repositioning of Africa-Caribbean relations in light of the undoing of the existing global order which has been unleashed by the Trump Presidency. (This is distinct for the piecemeal, timid, limited, short-term, technical proposals which emerged from the first summit).
The urgent establishment of dedicated personnel, technical and financial capacity in the EU and CARICOM secretariats to implement all Africa-CARICOM summit agreements. There is need for George Padmore-like and Tajudeen Abdul Raheem-like pan Africanists to be employed as advisors the AU and CARICOM, and, finally,
The further actualisation of people to people cultural contacts by the rolling out of a complete calendar of events and exchanges including, annual joint musical concerts and cultural performances, art and literary exchanges, film and movie productions by African and Caribbean artistes on both sides of the Atlantic; annual sporting exchanges such as an Africa-Games with alternating venues between Africa and the Caribbean.

While our leaders must take the lead, it would be a mistake to assume that Africa-Caribbean relations can be deepened unless our peoples become fully integrated in their everyday lives at the social, economic, and cultural levels.

Tennyson S.D. Joseph is a Caribbean national and a member of the Global Pan-African Movement (GPAM – North America). He is a former Senator in the Parliament of St. Lucia and is currently an Associate Professor of Political Science at North Carolina Central University.

Endnotes

[1] See Loop News 2021 “Honoured President of Kenya Talks Relations with Barbados”, Loop News, Oct 7. Available Online: https://www.loopnews.com/content/honoured-president-of-kenya-talks-rela…

[2] Prime Minsters’ Office (Barbados) 2019. “Press Release: Prime Minister Mia Mottley Accepts CARICOM Office Space in Nairobi, Kenya”, Dec. 7, 2019. Available Online: https://pmo.gov.bb/2019/12/07/prime-minister-mia-mottley-accepts-carico…

[3] Ghanaweb. 2019. “Prime Minister Mottley Calls for Closer Ties Between Ghana, Barbados”, Ghanaweb Nov. 16, 2019: Available Online: https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Prime-Minister-Mottl…

[4] Debbie Ransome. 2021. “Strength in Numbers: Africa and the Caribbean Forge a Path to Partnership” in The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs, Sept. 14, 2021. Available online: https://www.commonwealthroundtable.co.uk/commonwealth/africa/strength-i…;

[5] Africa-CARICOM Summit. 2021. Official Communique. Nairobi, Kenya. Sept. 7, 2012. Available Online: https://www.inafricara.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Final-Communique-…

[6] Afreximbank 2025. “Afreximbank breaks ground on historic state-of-the-art AATC in Barbados, First Oiutside Africa”, March 25, 2025. Available Online: https://www.afreximbank.com/afreximbank-breaks-ground-on-historic-state…

[7] Caribbean Today. 2025. “Barbados Government and Opposition Still at Odds Over Land Transfer to Afreximbank”, April 3, 2025. Available Online: https://www.caribbeantoday.com/sections/politics/barbados-government-an…

[8] CARICOM 2025. “Communique 48th Regular Meeting of Conference of Heads of Government”, Bridgetown, Barbados, Feb. 28, 2025. Available Online: https://www.foreign.gov.bb/communique-48th-regular-meeting-of-conference-of-caricom-heads-of-government/

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