The Honourable Mia Amor Mottley is the Eighth Prime Minister of Barbados and lead Head of Government within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). She is widely regarded as a charismatic and powerful leader due to a combination of her visionary leadership, compelling oratory skills, and unwavering advocacy for global issues. 

Her charisma comes from her authenticity, fearlessness, and ability to connect with people globally. She is not just a leader for Barbados or the Caribbean, but a transformational voice for the Global South. Her speeches inspire, her policies transform, and her leadership challenges the status quo—making her one of the most respected leaders of her time. 

Mia Mottley’s African Union Speech: A Masterclass in Leadership and Diplomacy

On Saturday 15 February 2025, Mia Mottley gave a powerful and historic speech at the 38th African Union Summit, which will become the “I have a dream” speech for Africans and people of African descent. She emphasised the need for Pan-African unity, economic independence, climate justice, and the need to reshape global governance. 

She framed her speech in the Spirit of Adwa. The Spirit of Adwa refers to the resilience, unity, and defiance against colonial domination, inspired by the Battle of Adwa in 1896. During this historic battle, Ethiopian Emperor Menelik II and Empress Taytu Betul led their forces to a decisive victory against the Italian army, preventing Ethiopia from being colonised.

Key themes from Mia Mottley's speech

1. The Legacy of Adwa and Pan-Africanism

• Mottley invoked the Battle of Adwa as a defining moment that shattered colonial dominance and inspired African unity.
• She traced the birth of Pan-Africanism to Adwa. Mottley highlighted how it led to the struggle for independence across Africa and the Caribbean.
• She urged leaders to rekindle this unity to face modern challenges, rather than remain divided by a history of forced separation.

2. Mia Mottley on strengthening Africa-Caribbean Relations

• She described the historical division between Africa and the Caribbean as deliberate, orchestrated by external powers.
• Mottley called for a new era of strategic cooperation. She urged Africa and the Caribbean to reclaim their "Atlantic destiny" by deepening economic, cultural, and political ties.
• She positioned Barbados and CARICOM as bridges between the regions. She also advocated for direct trade and travel links rather than relying on external intermediaries.

3. Climate Justice and Economic Reform

• As Chair of the V20 coalition of 70 climate-vulnerable countries, she highlighted the disproportionate impact of climate change on Africa and the Caribbean.
• She called for urgent reforms in global financial systems. This would allow developing nations to access funding for climate adaptation and debt relief.
• She cited the Bridgetown Initiative, which seeks to modernize the financial system and ensure fair treatment for the Global South.

4. Reparations and Historical Justice

• Mottley demanded reparations from former colonial powers, not only in financial terms but in fair access to development.
• She emphasized that reparations begin with a formal apology for historical wrongs.
• However, she also stressed that African and Caribbean nations must repair their own internal injustices, including the restrictions on free movement between their regions.

5. Self-Determination and Global Leadership

• She warned against Africa and the Caribbean being left behind in the AI and technology revolution, as happened with gunpowder and industrialization.
• She highlighted Africa’s untapped potential, noting that 40% of the world’s minerals are in Africa, yet the continent remains marginalized in global decision-making.
• She called on African and Caribbean leaders to act with a singular purpose in reshaping global governance.

6. Mia Mottley Call to Action: Building a United Future

• Mottley urged leaders to seize this moment and solidify Africa-Caribbean partnerships. She cited two upcoming events. The 15th Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) will be held in August 2025. She invited “our African family to celebrate our shared culture, food, music, and philosophy”. The second was the first in-person CARICOM-AU Summit in Addis Ababa in September 2025.
• She ended with a rallying cry: "Let us remove the scars of history and build the future our people deserve. We must emancipate ourselves from mental slavery and fulfill the promise of Adwa."

Conclusion: Mia Mottley Wake-Up Call to Africa:

Mia Mottley’s speech was a bold, visionary call for Africa and the Caribbean to unite, take control of our own destiny, and demand justice on the global stage. She reminded the audience that the challenges we face are not insurmountable. History has shown that unity can defeat oppression, break colonial chains, and build a prosperous future.

Her speech was not just about rhetoric; it was a blueprint for action, urging leaders to forge economic alliances, reform global systems, and ensure Africa and its diaspora take their rightful place in world affairs.

We stand with Mia Mottley and all our African leaders in fighting for The Africa We Want.