Land Governance in Africa Crucial to Justice, Economic Transformation, and Peace: AUC

Addis Ababa, November 10, 2025 (ENA) – The African Union Commission (AUC) has emphasized land governance in Africa is not merely a technical issue but the foundation of social justice, economic transformation, and peace across the continent.

The 2025 Conference on Land Policy in Africa opened in Addis Ababa today.

The four-day conference, held under the theme “Land Governance, Justice and Reparations for Africans and Descendants of People of the African Diaspora,” is jointly organized by the AUC, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and the African Land Policy Center (ALPC).

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Amr Aljowaily, AUC Citizens and  Diaspora Director, emphasized that land governance transcends mere technicalities; it is foundational to social justice, sustainable development and peace.

He stated, “Land governance in Africa is not a simple technical matter. It is the very architecture of social justice, economic transformation, and peace.”

Equitable land governance is central to Africa’s development aspirations, he stated, noting that the conference marks the sixth gathering of its kind and reflects the commitment to address the intersection of land justice, sovereignty, and sustainability.

Aljowaily also noted the enduring relevance of this dialogue, aligning it with the African Union's theme for 2025, which focuses on justice and reparations for Africans and those of African descent.

“Our discussions compel us to confront historical and contemporary inequities that shape the African condition,” he said, adding, “We must commit to a future defined not by grievance, but by redress and restoration of agency and dignity.”

Highlighting the necessity of situating land governance within Africa’s contemporary development agenda, Aljowaily asserted that struggles over land reflect deeper struggles for recognition and equitable opportunity.

He called for a reimagining of the relationship between knowledge, policy, and practice to ensure that land reforms are evidence-based and guided by equity, urging delegates of the conference for collective responsibility to transform land governance into a means of inclusion and prosperity.

The conference serves not only as a platform for expert dialogue but as a reaffirmation of Africa's commitment to achieving the vision outlined in Agenda 2063, which advocates for equitable access to land as a cornerstone of the future the continent desires.

“The challenge before us is clear to translate reparative justice into institutional reform and to transform land from a site of exclusion into a catalyst for inclusion, prosperity, and peace,” he elaborated.

On his part, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the ECA, Claver Gatete highlighted the role of the African Land Policy Center in promoting evidence-based land management and inclusive policies.

Gatete articulated the pressing challenges facing Africa, such as economic instability, climate change, and geopolitical shifts.

He stated, "the world is navigating converging storms," noting that Africa, despite its rich resources, bears the brunt of rising debt and persistent inequalities."

Gatete framed the core challenge facing the continent with a crucial question: "How can we build a just and prosperous Africa when the roots of historical injustice remain unresolved?"

Linking the conference's theme to the African Union's 2025 focus on reparations and justice, he stressed land is not just geography but a symbol of sovereignty and identity.

Gatete also called for reparations that move beyond mere acknowledgment to create transformative systems that restore equity, reaffirming the ECA’s commitment to these priorities.