The world is in mourning. Queen Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor 2 who ascended to power in 1952 passed away on Thursday evening.
Queen Elizabeth was the ceremonial head of state for several countries that had been colonized by the United Kingdom that constitute the Commonwealth.
As expected, a multitude of commonwealth countries lead the world in ushering condolences after the Queen, who headed up to 14 nations and was the leader of the United Kingdom, passed away after 70 years on the throne.
Past Atrocities
Even though most of the world celebrates her role for various purposes across the globe, some don’t share the same sentiments of gratitude and appreciation.
The case is especially seen in Africa, mostly because of some of the atrocities committed against them during the colonial era under the leadership of the Royal family.
South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema, made his stand clear in a statement that EFF did not mourn the death of Queen Elizabeth.
Malema said the Queen’s death was a reminder of a tragic period that brought pain and suffering to a continent that had never known peace or enjoyed the wealth that was used to enrich the British Royal family.
Malema accuses the Queen of heading an institution that built up, sustained, and lived off a brutal legacy of dehumanization of millions of people all around the globe.
He raised the question of what this incident meant to the world; Was it wrong for Africans to recall the painful, brutal, and savagery past their African Ancestors faced for Queen and Country?
For instance, Kenya faced firsthand brutal mutilations as the Mau Mau put up a spirited fight against the British Colonizers. The rebellions against British rule saw concentration camps built where there was suppression and inhumane brutality enacted on freedom fighters then regarded as terrorists, and later in February 1957, their leader Dedan Kimathi was killed.
Another example of the painful past is what was experienced when the people of Yemen in 1963 chose to rise against the British Colonialism Rule that was met with the brutal suppression of the uprising as believed to have been ordered from Britain.
In addition, citing some of the atrocities faced worldwide, the EFF leader spoke of the Royal Family having plundered India via the East India Company, taking over the control of the Caribbean Islands, and overseeing the oppression of the people.
Most of the bitterness seems to arise from the Queen not addressing or accepting the atrocities and crimes Britain perpetrated on the people in the realm or trying to pay reparations.
It’s to be remembered that Kenyan Highland settlers of Kericho County in Kenya sued the UK government for reparations of up to $200 billion in payment for the enslaved labor, domination, and exploitation.
The Kericho case was submitted to the European Court of Human Rights after a failure by the UK to address these colonial crimes and is ongoing in court.
There are claims that more than half a million Kenyans faced colonial abuses. From killing to sexual violence, torture, theft, and land grabbing; Africa is a big crime scene when it comes to the case of British Imperialism.
Reparations
As stated by Former Kenya Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, “there is a need for the UK to continue paying its reparations as they earlier started in 2013 by paying $30 million, since Britain ignoring the call to pay reparations is an act of gross inhumanity and injustice.”
The reparations were paid to 5,000 elderly Kenyans who the British tortured and abused during the Mau Mau Uprising for Kenya’s Independence.
“This is an issue that will not go away and they have to respond effectively with solemnness to it and the Caribbean will probably raise the same issue, the people from India are also still calling for reparations,” he added.
