By Nicholas Mokua
The highly anticipated Conference on Land Policy in Africa (CLPA) officially kicked off on Monday, 10th of November at the Africa Hall located within the ECA Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The conference which brings together government representatives, academics, researchers, non-state actors, traditional leaders, private sector, and partners from diverse fields aims to have players from these fields discuss and collaborate on a multitude of land issues. This was the 6th edition of the biannual event.
The official opening ceremony was slotted for the afternoon, with dignitaries and delegates alike coming from meetings and panel discussions taking place in the conference rooms within the premises. It was impossible to miss the venue, with a live Ethiopian band playing on the ground floor the music served as an auditory beacon for guests headed to the Africa Hall. Upon arrival, the music became the backdrop to dancers who gracefully moved in tandem with the beats from traditional drums and sang in harmony to the rhythm creating a lasting impression and a befitting welcome for guests. Moreover, the dancers had Afework Tekle’s majestic stained-glass masterpiece “The total liberation of Africa” as a backdrop.
Janet Edeme, Director of the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture, officiated the Ceremony. She reminded participants of this year’s theme: ‘Land Governance, Justice and Reparations for Africans and Descendants of People of The African Diaspora’ was linked to the AU Theme of the Year. She said that food security, social cohesion and peace in the region require inclusive land governance.
The first speaker, Mr. Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa began by reminding delegates of the historical significance of the Africa Hall - the birthplace of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in May 1963. Africa Hall, he said, is an enduring symbol of our collective journey towards freedom and dignity. In the face of global economic uncertainty, climate change and geopolitical instability, it is Africa that bears the heaviest burden despite not contributing a lot to pollution. its abundance of material and human resources. He stated that it is in this context that the CLPA 2025 theme finds resonance given the issues set to be addressed. These issues, he emphasized, are not debates of the past but imperatives for African renewal.
The land question on the continent asks us to reflect on how a continent so rich in land and resources can leave so many without secure tenure. Historical injustices from slavery and colonial dispossession adversely impacted our economies and global position. Reparations, therefore, have to not only acknowledge the past but reform systems that perpetuate those inequalities today. His five recommendations included reforming global financial and trading architecture; strengthening land governance and tenure security for women, youth and smallholder farmers; leveraging on the African Continental Free Trade Area to turn resource wealth into regional value chains; mobilizing the African diaspora as co-architects of transformation and investing in technology, climate resilience and youth empowerment.
Ambassador Amr Aljowaily, speaking on behalf of the African Union Commission, was next in delivering his remarks. He began by affirming the conference’s role as a vital platform for interrogating the intersection of land, justice, and sovereignty in Africa. He emphasized that land governance is not merely technical but central to social justice and sustainable development.
Aligning with the AU’s 2025 Theme of the Year, he called for reparative justice that restores dignity and agency to Africans and their descendants. Stressing the need to embed justice within Africa’s development agenda, he highlighted land as both a symbol and instrument of equity. His remarks celebrated African multilateralism and urged delegates to transform historical reflection into forward-looking governance, reaffirming the AU’s commitment to supporting member states in this transformative journey.
Then Africa Hall was reenergized by a spoken word performance by artist Scar of ‘Scar Poetry.’ Scar breathed life into the room and warranted a standing ovation from delegates present. She owned the stage as she weaved her words to question the education Africans receive that forces a narrative of thanking colonial powers for development made on the continent, the spiritual significance of land dispossession and the loss of sustenance for many African households. Scar left the stage singing a folk song in her mother tongue, which even though may not have been understood by the audience resonated deeply.
Finally, Mzwanele Nyhontso, Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development of the Republic of South Africa delivered a powerful address as the Keynote Speaker. He highlighted the country’s constitutional commitment to equitable land access and tenure security. He outlined legislative progress, including the redistribution of 5.9 million hectares and the prioritization of women, youth, and persons with disabilities in policy formulation. Emphasizing land’s social and spiritual value, he called for reparations and sustainable partnerships to fund land reforms. The Minister also showcased South Africa’s leadership in geospatial governance and urged stronger links between land reform, rural development, and urban transformation. His speech concluded with a call for unity, innovation, and collaboration across Africa to restore dignity and drive inclusive growth.