The 6th African Land Policy Conference opened in Addis Ababa on November 10, 2025, under the auspices of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Union, and the African Development Bank. Themed "Land Governance, Justice and Reparations for Africans and Descendants of the African Diaspora," it placed land and economic justice at the heart of the discussions.

In his opening address, the ECA Executive Secretary, Claver Gatete, denounced the persistence of an unequal global economic system, inherited from slavery and colonization. He noted that Africa, despite its abundant resources, still accounts for only about 2% of global manufacturing output, according to ECA estimates.

In light of this situation, he advocated for reform of the international financial system, equitable and secure access to land, particularly for women and young people, and better management of natural resources within the framework of regional integration promoted by the AfCFTA. For the ECA, inclusive land governance is one of the pillars of African economic sovereignty, alongside industrialization and the local processing of raw materials.

The conference also highlighted the mobilization of African diasporas and digital innovation as complementary levers for modernizing land administration and strengthening transparency. Through these proposals, the ECA intends to pave the way for a structural overhaul of the relationship between land, development, and economic power in Africa.