Afro-Surinamese organizations form coalition to address systemic inequalities

A coalition of 22 Afro-Surinamese organizations has formed to address systemic disadvantages faced by descendants of the slavery era. The initiative, led by the organization Na Afrikan Kulturu fu Sranan (NAKS), aims to move beyond cultural issues to tackle disparities in education, healthcare, land rights, housing, and entrepreneurship.

A seven-person core group met with President Jennifer Simons on August 20, 2026, to discuss the coalition's plans and potential cooperation with the government. NAKS chairperson Siegmien Staphorst emphasized the need for data-driven research to identify specific gaps, which will serve as the foundation for a structured multi-year program designed to reduce and eventually eliminate these inequalities.

Staphorst explicitly clarified that the formation of this coalition was not motivated by the 66.6 million euro fund provided by the Netherlands for Suriname. The group intends to use concrete figures and evidence to develop targeted programs for social change.