Qaddafi apologized to African leaders for the Arab slave trade in Africa

Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi apologized on behalf of Arab nations for their involvement in the African slave trade at the Second Afro-Arab summit in Sirte, Libya.

"I regret the behavior of the Arabs… They brought African children to North Africa, they made them slaves, they sold them like animals, and they took them as slaves and traded them in a shameful way. I regret and I am ashamed when we remember these practices. I apologize for this."

Qaddafi continued his apology by saying, “Today we are embarrassed and shocked by these outrageous practices of rich Arabs who had treated their fellow Africans with contempt and condescension. We should now recognize this issue, denounce it vigorously and place it in its true dimension.”

Contrary to many people beliefs, the Arab slave trade predates the European slave trade in Africa. The Arab slave trade began in the 7th century and lasted more than 1000 years. Africans were taken from present-day Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, and transported to Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Turkey, and other parts of the Arab world. The Arab slave trade stretched over three continents at its peak.

African male slaves, who were often made eunuchs, were employed as servants, soldiers, or laborers by their Arab owners. An eunuch is a man who has been castrated and is incapable of reproduction; eunuchs usually guarded the Arab women. African female slaves were mostly purchased as concubines or house servants.

According to UNESCO, the European slave trade transported about 28 million Africans to the New World, some historians’ estimate that the number is as high as 100 million African slaves. The number of Africans enslaved during the Arab slave trade is also not clear, as accurate records were not kept. Historians estimate the number to be over 10 million African slaves.

Qaddafi’s apology on behalf of Arab nations is a very noble act. However, Qaddafi should follow-up this apology by initiating talks with other Arab leaders about paying reparations to African nations.