ECA chief stresses land governance, reparations as pillars for Africa’s justice and prosperity
Addis Ababa, November 10, 2025 (FMC) — The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has highlighted the critical role of land governance and reparations in shaping a just, prosperous, and peaceful Africa, speaking at the opening of the 2025 Conference on Land Policy in Africa.
Addressing the sixth edition of the conference, themed “Land Governance, Justice and Reparations for Africans and Descendants of the People of the African Diaspora,” Claver Gatete, UN Under-Secretary-General and ECA Executive Secretary, said Africa’s challenges extend beyond geography, emphasizing that land embodies sovereignty, identity, and security.
“Land anchors livelihoods, underpins food systems and defines belonging,” Gatete said, noting that despite Africa’s rich resources, many communities still lack secure access or equitable benefit.
He pointed to historical injustices, including centuries of enslavement, colonization, and dispossession, as factors shaping contemporary inequalities in trade, finance, and economic opportunity.
Gatete warned that the world is facing “converging storms” from economic uncertainty, climate change, and geopolitical shifts, which disproportionately affect Africa. “How can we build a just and prosperous Africa when the roots of historical injustice remain unresolved?” he asked.
He called for reparations that go beyond acknowledgment of the past, arguing they must transform systems that perpetuate inequality today and restore balance between Africa’s resource wealth and shared prosperity.
Gatete outlined five key priorities for Africa’s future:
1. Reform the global financial and trade system: Africa loses an estimated $88 billion annually through illicit financial flows while unfair credit ratings and limited climate finance hinder development. He called for fairer credit assessments, debt-for-development instruments, and stronger African financial institutions.
2. Strengthen land governance and tenure security: Secure land rights for women, youth, and smallholder farmers are essential for social stability, food security, and lasting development.
3. Leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): Gatete urged turning resource wealth into regional value chains and manufacturing, rather than exporting raw materials and importing finished goods.
4. Mobilize the African diaspora: The diaspora’s capital, knowledge, and advocacy can accelerate Africa’s industrial and digital transformation if channeled effectively.
5. Invest in technology, climate resilience, and youth empowerment: Digital tools, climate-smart agriculture, and youth-led green and digital initiatives are key to shared prosperity and sustainable development.
Gatete reaffirmed ECA’s commitment to supporting African countries in strengthening land governance, improving data systems, and fostering regional cooperation through the African Land Policy Centre in partnership with the African Union and African Development Bank.
“Together, we can reclaim not only what was lost but also build what must last,” he said, invoking the historic significance of Africa Hall, where the founders of the Organization of African Unity first declared their commitment to continental unity.