Makes leaders come over, at last, after a slow start, to make reparations (6)
I believe the answer is:
amends
'reparations' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
I can't explain the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for amends that I've seen before include "Improves - damages" , "Makes minor improvements" , "It is made in reparation" , "Make these to make up for past wrongs" , "Frees from error" .)