By Catarina Demony April 18 (Reuters) - A man in his 80s on Saturday issued what is believed to be the first formal apology by someone in France for their family's role in transatlantic slavery,
First Formal Slavery Apology in France Issued by Pierre Guillon de Prince
Pierre Guillon de Prince's Historic Apology and Its Impact
By Catarina Demony
April 18 (Reuters) - A man in his 80s on Saturday issued what is believed to be the first formal apology by someone in France for their family's role in transatlantic slavery, saying he hoped others - including the government- would follow.
Family History and Nantes' Role in Slavery
Pierre Guillon de Prince's ancestors, based in Nantes, France's largest port for transatlantic slavery, were shipowners who transported around 4,500 enslaved Africans and owned plantations in the Caribbean.
Confronting the Past and Seeking Reparations
Guillon de Prince said other French families must confront their historical ties to slavery and the state should go beyond symbolic gestures to address the past, including through reparations.
"Faced with the rise of racism in our society, I felt a responsibility not to let this past be erased," the 86-year-old said, adding he wanted to pass the family history on to his grandchildren.
The Apology Event in Nantes
He delivered the apology to a gathering in Nantes ahead of the inauguration of an 18-metre replica ship mast, alongside Dieudonné Boutrin, a descendant of enslaved people from the Caribbean island of Martinique.
Role of Coque Nomade-Fraternité Association
The two work together at Coque Nomade-Fraternité, an association dedicated to "breaking the silence" around slavery, and said the mast would serve as a "beacon of humanity".
Reactions and Significance
"Many families of descendants of slave traders don't dare speak out for fear of reopening old wounds and anger," said Boutrin, 61. "Pierre's apology is a courageous act."
Historical Context of Transatlantic Slavery
From the 15th to the 19th century, at least 12.5 million Africans were abducted and forcibly transported, mostly on European ships. France trafficked an estimated 1.3 million people.
Guillon de Prince's move follows similar formal apologies - which include commitments to help repair the harm caused by ancestors - by some families in Britain and elsewhere.
Calls for Reparations Grow
France recognised transatlantic slavery as a crime against humanity in 2001 but, like most European countries, has never formally apologised for its role.
Government Actions and Ongoing Debates
During his terms in office, President Emmanuel Macron has expanded access to archives on France's colonial past. Last year, he said he would establish a commission to examine France's history with Haiti, without mentioning reparations.
Calls for reparations - ranging from official apologies to financial compensation - are growing worldwide, even as critics argue states and institutions should not be held responsible for historical crimes.
Recent Developments at the United Nations
Last month, France abstained at the United Nations from an Africa-led resolution declaring slavery the "gravest crime against humanity" and calling for reparations.
(Reporting by Catarina Demony in London. Editing by Mark Potter)
