The 2025 Conference on Land Policy in Africa (CLPA) concluded on Thursday with a unified Call to Action. Held in Addis Ababa, it symbolizes a continent-wide commitment to transform land governance from a legacy of dispossession into foundations for justice, reparations, and sovereignty. The declaration urges African governments to develop integrated national frameworks for land restitution, cultural heritage recovery, and reparations.
The 2025 Conference on Land Policy in Africa (CLPA) wrapped up in Addis Ababa on Thursday. It built on the opening day's calls to address historical injustices, along with side events and technical sessions. The conference's final declaration shifts from assessment to implementation, outlining concrete steps for governments, traditional leaders, development partners, civil society, and academia.
The Call to Action calls on African governments to lead by creating comprehensive national frameworks that integrate land restitution, cultural heritage recovery, and reparations. This encompasses restoring indigenous place names and sacred sites, as well as setting up dedicated national restitution funds. A central directive involves the official recognition and protection of customary land tenure systems, which manage over 80% of Africa's land. The call insists on aligning customary and statutory laws to bridge colonial-era divides and guarantee fair access for women, youth, and marginalized communities. Governments must also incorporate technology into land governance to enhance transparency and better handle rapidly expanding peri-urban areas.