The first Abidjan Land Days (Jfa) concluded on October 7, 2026, at the Port-Bouët Exhibition Park in Côte d'Ivoire. The three-day event brought together ministers, experts, technical and financial partners, civil society representatives, and sector professionals to discuss land governance challenges in Africa. The conference resulted in seven recommendations aimed at modernizing land governance, preventing conflicts, and mobilizing resources for the continent's development.
The recommendations emphasize the need for a harmonized, transparent, and secure regulatory framework to encourage investments in the land sector. Participants also suggested strengthening partnerships between countries to share best practices and promote beneficial land governance. This approach aims to protect natural resources and contribute to climate change mitigation. The recommendations were welcomed by Bruno Nabagné Koné, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food Production.
The third recommendation focuses on enhancing the role of civil society and the private sector in designing, implementing, and monitoring land policies. This inclusive approach seeks to involve more stakeholders in public decision-making. Prioritizing dialogue and mediation in resolving land conflicts is another key recommendation, aiming to prevent and peacefully resolve disputes. This approach is expected to foster social cohesion.
Financing is a crucial aspect of the recommendations, with participants stressing the need for adequate funding for land policies. Mobilizing sufficient financial resources is essential for implementing reforms and sustaining progress. The institutionalization of the Abidjan Land Days was also recommended, aiming to establish a recurring platform for the regional and international land community to promote innovative solutions for African development.
The seventh recommendation encourages states to better value land governance and strengthen its role as a lever for peace, social cohesion, productive investment, job creation, sustainable development, and shared prosperity. According to Minister Koné, implementing these recommendations relies primarily on the political will of governments and their capacity to mobilize necessary resources.
Minister Koné emphasized the importance of maintaining the engagement of development partners, such as the World Bank, the African Development Bank (Bad), and the French Development Agency (Afd). Their support contributed to the success of the Abidjan Land Days. The conference provided a platform for several African and international countries to share experiences and expertise on reconciling land security, investment attractiveness, natural resource protection, and conflict prevention.
The challenge now is to translate the seven recommendations into concrete measures, making land governance an instrument of stability, economic development, and social progress in Africa. The Abidjan Land Days have laid the groundwork for a collective effort toward more modern, secure, and sustainable land governance. The event's outcome is expected to contribute to the construction of a common framework for addressing land challenges in Africa.
Key points
- The Abidjan Land Days resulted in seven recommendations for modernizing land governance in Africa.
- The recommendations focus on harmonizing regulations, strengthening partnerships, and prioritizing dialogue and mediation in resolving land conflicts.
- The implementation of the recommendations relies on the political will of governments and their capacity to mobilize necessary resources.
