On October 14, 2025, Strathmore University’s Microsoft Auditorium, diplomacy came alive. Bachelor of Arts in International Relations (BIS) second-year students enrolled for the International Organizations and Institutions unit, bringing diplomacy to life through a Model African Union (MAU) Simulation.

The engaging and intellectually charged exercise was organized under the 2025 African Union theme, “Reparations for Justice and Development: Forging a Unified African Position.” The simulation, which formed part of the unit’s experiential learning component, sought to immerse students in the processes, challenges, and dynamics of continental diplomacy. It aimed to provide them with practical insights into how the African Union (AU) operates, particularly in areas such as policymaking, consensus-building, and multilateral negotiations.

A total of 121 students participated in the exercise, representing twenty-two African Union member states. This is the same number as the Embassies and High Commissions currently accredited to Kenya. Each group of students acted as delegates of their assigned country, responsible for articulating national positions on the pressing issue of reparations for colonial injustices, slavery, and historical exploitation.

The simulation was conceived as a bridge between theory and practice, designed to deepen the students’ understanding of how international organizations such as the AU operate, as a  regional fora, resource and actor within complex political and historical contexts. Prior to the event, students were tasked with reaching out to their respective Embassies and High Commissions in Nairobi for mentorship and guidance on how their countries engage in AU deliberations.

A few diplomatic missions, including those of Botswana, South Sudan, and Sudan, warmly welcomed the students, providing valuable insights into their countries’ perspectives on reparations, historical injustices, and remedial action. For many participants, these interactions provided a rare opportunity to engage with professional diplomats and gain firsthand understanding of the nuances of African diplomacy.

For those unable to secure embassy appointments, secondary research became their main tool. Students devoted significant time to studying government statements, AU resolutions, and academic literature to construct informed positions that reflected their assigned country’s foreign policy priorities.

It was evident from the presentations that the 2025 AU theme on reparations is a topic gaining increasing attention and at the heart of African Union member states’ foreign policy and diplomatic engagement. It provided fertile ground for critical discussion. The simulation challenged the students to grapple with difficult questions: What form should reparations take? Who should be responsible for paying them? How can reparations support Africa’s development agenda and address persistent inequalities born of historical injustices?

The debate also illuminated the diversity of African perspectives on the issue. Delegations representing nations such as Senegal, Algeria, Ghana and Nigeria highlighted the moral and economic imperatives of reparations, citing ongoing global discussions on restitution for slavery and colonial exploitation. Others, including Burundi, South Sudan and South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, emphasized the need for a unified continental approach that would strengthen Africa’s collective bargaining power on the global stage.

Smaller or conflict-affected states argued that reparations should not only focus on financial compensation but also include investments in peacebuilding, education, and cultural restoration. This broad interpretation of reparations reflected a deep understanding of the African Union’s vision of a just, integrated, and prosperous continent.

Strathmore University’s Microsoft Auditorium was transformed into a vibrant diplomatic arena. Students assumed roles of heads of state and foreign ministers with formal dress and the decorum of an official summit. The remarks were both intense and enlightening, as students learned to balance national interests with the broader continental agenda. They practically showed an appreciation of the key functions of diplomacy- communication, negotiating and advocating.

One of the notable aspects of the exercise was the quality of debate and the depth of research displayed. Delegates demonstrated critical thinking and negotiation skills, referencing AU legal instruments such as the Constitutive Act of the African Union, the Agenda 2063 framework, and previous AU resolutions on historical justice. The participants’ ability to link these frameworks to contemporary global debates on reparations was impressive.

According to James Nyawo, Ph.D, the course instructor, ‘‘the simulation was more than an academic exercise. It was also an opportunity to cultivate leadership, diplomacy, and critical reasoning among the students.’’ He added, “The goal was to orient students on the work of the African Union and to foster a sense of African solidarity and agency.”

As the curtains fell on the event, it was clear that the simulation had achieved its goal. It had inspired a new generation of scholars and leaders to think critically about Africa’s past and its future. In their discussions and debates, the students demonstrated that reparations are not just about redressing history. They are about reimagining Africa’s path toward unity, equity, and self-determination.

Article written by Bachelor of Arts in International Relations (BIS) second-year students.