It’s 2026. France repeals its slavery decree France’s National Assembly unanimously voted to repeal the 1685 Code Noir, a decree that institutionalized slavery, in 2026. While a symbolically necessary act, critics argue it is a political sleight of hand as the decree held no legal force since 1848 and France has failed to address the issue of reparations or the lasting harm caused by slavery and colonialism. The article highlights Haiti’s forced payment of an “independence debt” to France in 1825, crippling the nation for over a century, and contrasts this with France’s abstention on UN resolutions calling for restorative justice for slavery and colonialism. Activists and politicians call for tangible actions, including reparations, educational funding, and the dismantling of systemic racism, rather than symbolic gestures, emphasizing the need for structural change to repair the damage caused by centuries of exploitation.

• France’s National Assembly unanimously repealed the Code Noir, a 1685 decree that institutionalized slavery in its colonies, in 2026.
• Critics argue the repeal is a symbolic act with no substance, as slavery was abolished in 1848 and the decree held no legal force.
• France has not paid reparations to descendants of enslaved people and continues to honor figures associated with slavery.
• Haiti was extorted by France in 1825 to pay an “independence debt,” leading to over a century of financial subjugation.
• Activists demand real reparations, educational funding, and the dismantling of systemic racism, not just symbolic gestures.
• Proposed actions include negotiated restitution with Haiti, a national reparations fund for overseas territories, and integrating the history of slavery into school curricula.