The first congress of movements against French colonialism was held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. It was attended by about 20 leaders of political parties and movements fighting for the independence of Corsica, Melanesia, Polynesia, the group of Caribbean and Antilles islands that suffered from French colonialism, as well as representatives of two Dutch colonies.

During the colonial period, European countries kidnapped more than 12.5 million Africans and took them away on ships. The government of the African island nation of Sao Tome and Principe has said it will demand reparations from Portugal for damages caused by colonial policies.