First African Land Forum

From 7-8 November 2012 the International Land Coalition (ILC), in conjunction with the  Mbororo Social and Cultural Development Association of Cameroon (MBOSCUDA) held the First African Land Forum (ALF) in Yaoundé, Cameroon, under the theme: “Securing the land rights of indigenous people and rural communities.” According to the ILC, the ALF “brought together over 60 actors from throughout Africa to exchange on the land rights of indigenous people and poor rural communities” and they explored “policy options and strategies for rendering global, regional and national land policies more pro-poor, inclusive and responsive to the needs of marginalized communities and groups as a path to equitable development in Africa.”

The instigation of such a forum covering African land issues is an important event, and comes at a critical juncture as foreign investment interests are increasing in the region, as well as the political issues which have led to increased corruption, militarization, and displacement in the region, which has a direct effect on the administration of land.

The outcome documents, referred to as the Yaoundé Declaration, states that “Our common goal is to promote people-centred land governance, which serves the needs of the poor and most vulnerable.” This statement is a reflection of where the forum succeeded, by putting forth a sentiment of regional unity towards the reform of land administration and governance, as well as the idea that more attention should be placed on the protection of the land rights of indigenous persons and women. The recommendations from this Declaration are as follows:

• Sustainable and equitable land governance;
• Legally recognize and protect the land rights of all land users;
• Ensure wide participation in decision-making over land;
• End discrimination of women and minorities;
• Use widely adopted guidelines for good land governance;
• A primary place for small-scale producers;
• Benefits and compensation;
• Fair and accessible land conflict and resolution mechanisms.

These recommendations are important and reflect the goals of many organizations that focus on issues of land, including HLRN. However, the ALF has neglected to put forth analysis on the deep and long-standing issues that plague the region and prevent these objectives from being met, namely militarization (or more generally internal violence) and displacement.

A quick glance through the Violations Database reveals how these issues have been the cause of forced evictions/displacement and damage to land over the past few years. This includes land and housing damage or forced displacement due to violence and fighting in many countries including Nigeria, Mali, and Somalia, as well as the continued plight of refugees and IDPs in places such as Cote d’Ivoire and Liberia.

It is also imperative that direct attention be placed on the issue of land corruption, which is in issues that is not unique to Africa, but nevertheless deeply affecting land administration on all levels. From international investments to small-scale farming, land corruption, as a result of a lack of transparency and accountability in government (national and local) has been detrimental to land equity, and in 2011 the FAO stated that when accountability and transparency are lacking, “the risk of corruption rises and threatens to turn land into a tool of alienation of ordinary people. As a result of corruption, people lose the cultural and economic benefits of their own land resources.” This issue of corruption has had tremendous attention in the media over the past few years, and has had a negative effect across the continent, from Egypt to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Sierra Leone to Kenya.

The ILC’s First African Land Forum was a good step in the right direction of increased unified activism across the continent, and as it is the first forum, we hope that it is not the last and that continued efforts will be made to delve deeper into the core issues that are negatively impacting land administration across Africa.

For more information on the ALF, including presentations, please visit the ILC website here.