The president promises and the government evades, Portugal refuses to pay slavery reparations

Reuters said that the Portuguese government refused to initiate any measures to pay compensation for slavery during the colonial era.

A statement issued by the Portuguese government said that it wanted to "deepen mutual relations and respect historical truth," but it had no action plan for compensation.

Earlier, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced that his country's authorities bear responsibility for the "mistakes of the past" and must pay the price for the crimes committed in the colonies.

Portugal had colonies for more than 500 years until 1999, including Angola, Mozambique, Brazil, Cape Verde and East Timor. According to Reuters information, between the 15th and 19th centuries, Portuguese ships forcibly transported 6 million Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to exploit and sell them.