UNECA Chief Opens Africa Land Conference With Call for Justice, Reparations

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — The 2025 Conference on Land Policy in Africa opened Monday at the UN Economic Commission for Africa headquarters, where United Nations Under-Secretary-General Claver Gatete called for sweeping measures to address persistent land inequality, restore historical justice and overhaul global systems that continue to disadvantage African countries and the African diaspora.

UNECA Chief Claver Gatete has called for reforms to global finance, stronger land governance and renewed action on justice and reparations at the opening of Conference on Land Policy in Africa 2025. (Photo: UNECA)

Gatete, who also serves as the executive secretary of UNECA, told delegates gathered in Africa Hall that the meeting’s theme — “Land Governance, Justice and Reparations for Africans and Descendants of the People of the African Diaspora” — is aligned with the African Union’s designated 2025 “Year of Reparations, Justice and Healing.” He said the issue has renewed urgency as African states confront rising debt costs, climate pressures and global economic uncertainty.

The conference, now in its sixth edition, has drawn government ministers, diplomats, researchers, development partners and civil society leaders. The opening ceremony featured a cultural performance and a spoken-word presentation by the artist Scar-Poetry. African Union Ambassador Amr Aljowaily delivered opening remarks, and South Africa’s land reform minister, Mzwanele Nyhontso, is giving the keynote address.

Legacy of Inequality

Gatete said land in Africa holds economic, social and cultural significance beyond its physical boundaries. It underpins identity, security, food systems, industrial development and political stability.

He noted that the African Land Policy Centre — a partnership of UNECA, the African Union Commission and the African Development Bank — has helped countries strengthen policy frameworks, expand training and improve land data systems. Still, he said, widespread inequality persists, particularly among women, youth and smallholder farmers who often lack formal tenure and legal protections.

He said the roots of these disparities lie in centuries of enslavement, colonization and dispossession that shaped the continent’s political economy and its place in global trade and finance.

Gatete added that these legacies continue to influence outcomes today, pointing to credit assessments that raise the cost of borrowing for African governments and trade rules that encourage the export of raw materials rather than the development of local manufacturing. Africa holds a significant share of global mineral reserves and uncultivated arable land, he said, yet contributes only a small portion to global manufacturing output.

“How can a continent so rich in land and resources still leave so many without secure access or equitable benefit?” he asked. “The answer lies in history, but also in the structures that continue to shape global systems.”

Priorities for Reform

Gatete outlined five areas he said require coordinated action from African countries, development partners and international institutions. He presented them not as standalone policy recommendations, but as interconnected steps toward a fairer global economic system and stronger land governance.

He began by calling for reforms to global finance and trade systems. Gatete said Africa loses an estimated $88 billion annually through illicit financial flows and receives less than 3% of global climate finance, despite facing comparatively severe climate impacts.

He said long-term development is constrained by credit ratings that elevate borrowing costs and by limited access to concessional financing. Fairer credit assessments, expanded African financial institutions and debt instruments tied to development goals, he said, could help correct these imbalances. “Justice in global finance will begin when the conditions for borrowing are fair,” he said.

Strengthening land governance and tenure security was his second priority. Gatete said transparent land administration is essential for food security, peace and economic development.

He urged governments to expand legal protections for women and young people, improve dispute resolution systems and adopt clear rules governing customary and statutory tenure. Without secure land rights, he said, communities remain vulnerable to displacement, food systems cannot stabilize and investment cannot grow.

Gatete also emphasized the economic potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area. With a combined gross domestic product of about $3.4 trillion, the agreement presents an opportunity to build regional value chains, reduce reliance on commodity exports and expand trade in African-produced goods.

He said Africa loses significant value by exporting raw materials and reimporting finished products. “The continent must retain more of the value generated from its land and resources,” he said, noting that stronger manufacturing capacity could create jobs and broaden economic opportunity.

Engaging the African diaspora was his fourth recommendation. Gatete described the diaspora as a vital extension of the continent with the potential to contribute investment, skills and global networks. He said African states and regional institutions should establish structured channels to channel diaspora expertise into industrial development, technology and innovation.

The diaspora, he said, is well positioned to support both financial and knowledge-based partnerships that advance long-term continental priorities.

Finally, Gatete said investment in technology, climate resilience and Africa’s youth must be central to all future strategies. Digital tools can modernize land administration, improve transparency and reduce corruption, he said.

Climate-smart practices, especially in agriculture, can protect ecosystems and strengthen food systems. And Africa’s young population — the largest youth demographic in the world — must be equipped to drive industrial transformation, digital innovation and green growth. He said innovation must lead to equitable development and not reinforce new disparities.

Looking Ahead

As the conference continues this week, delegates are expected to examine displacement driven by climate change, the role of technology in land administration, restitution and compensation frameworks, and regional efforts to harmonize land data. Organizers say the discussions will inform national strategies and shape recommendations for upcoming African Union and United Nations meetings.

Gatete said UNECA will continue working closely with the African Union, the African Development Bank and the African Land Policy Centre to support countries in improving land governance, strengthening regional cooperation and addressing structural inequalities. He said the conference is intended not only to examine past injustices but also to build consensus on practical measures that can restore fairness in current global systems.

He closed by highlighting the symbolic importance of Africa Hall, where the Organization of African Unity was founded in 1963. “This hall stands for unity of purpose,” he said. “It calls us to work together to reclaim what was lost and to build what must last.”