Opening remarks by H.E. Ambassador Amr Aljowaily at the Conference on Land Policy in Africa

OPENING REMARKS

BY

H.E. AMBASSADOR AMR ALJOWAILY

AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION

AT THE CONFERENCE ON LAND POLICY IN AFRICA

Date: 10 November 2025 (14:45 hours)

Venue: Africa Hall

Your Excellencies

Honourable Ministers

Representatives of African Union Member States

Vice-Chancellors

Esteemed Traditional Leaders

Representatives of Development Partners

Land practitioners

Distinguished Delegates

Ladies and Gentlemen

All protocols observed

On behalf of the African Union Commission, it is a profound honour to welcome you to the 6^th Conference on Land Policy in Africa (CLPA 2025), convened jointly by the African Union Commission, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the African Land Policy Centre.

Since its inception, the CLPA has become an enduring intellectual and policy platform, a space where Africa convenes not merely to discuss land, but to interrogate how justice, sovereignty, and sustainability intersect on this most fundamental of resources.

The Conference's enduring relevance reflects a truth we can no longer overlook, which is, land governance in Africa is not simply a technical matter it is the very architecture of social justice, economic transformation, and peace.

The theme of this year's conference, "Land Governance, Justice and Reparations for Africans and Descendants of People of the African Diaspora," resonates very well with the African Union Theme of the Year for 2025 "Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations."

Together, these themes compel us to confront historical and contemporary inequities that continue to shape the African condition and to commit to a future defined not by grievance, but by redress and renewal.

This Theme of the Year challenges us to reimagine justice beyond the confines of legal restitution, toward a broader and more emancipatory vision of justice as restoration but reminds us of the importance of the restoration of agency, of dignity, and of the right of Africans to define their own developmental destiny.

Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen;

The African Union's leadership in this space has committed to dialogues and ensuring that this theme is implemented.

As we look ahead, the AU is asserting that the work of justice and reparations must be situated within Africa's contemporary development agenda not as a historical afterthought, but as a pillar of sustainable transformation.

In this regard, land remains both a symbol and an instrument of justice. Across the continent, struggles over land mirror deeper struggles over recognition, belonging, and the equitable distribution of opportunity.

The governance of land is thus inseparable from the governance of development itself. To address inequity in access to land is to address inequity in access to power, prosperity, and participation.

As we reflect on the deliberations that will unfold over the coming days, we are reminded that this conference serves as more than a convening of experts. It is an affirmation of Africa's commitment to reimagine the nexus between knowledge, policy, and practice, to ensure that our reforms are grounded in evidence, guided by equity, and propelled by shared purpose.

The CLPA also stands as a unique embodiment of African multilateralism at its best, an example of what can be achieved when our continental institutions work in harmony with academia, civil society, and our development partners.

It is a testament to the enduring spirit of collaboration that underpins the AU Declaration on Land Issues and Challenges in Africa, and to the vision of Agenda 2063, which situates equitable access to land as foundational to the Africa We Want.

In the context of this year's Theme, the challenge before us is clear: to translate reparative justice into institutional reform; to turn historical reflection into forward-looking governance; and to transform land from a site of exclusion into a catalyst for inclusion, prosperity, and peace.

The African Union Commission remains steadfast in its support to Member States and partners in this endeavour.

Together, let us reaffirm that Africa's path to justice is inseparable from its path to sustainable development and that both are grounded in the governance of land, the dignity of its people, and the promise of its future.

Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen;

As we open this 6^th Conference on Land Policy in Africa, let us commit ourselves to advancing the moral and practical work of justice, justice that repairs, restores, and reclaims Africa's agency in shaping its own narrative.

May our deliberations over the coming days generate the insight, partnerships, and resolve needed to carry this vision forward.

I thank you.