Sierra Leone Hosts 5th Regional African Land Institutions Conference, Calls for Stronger Community Land Rights
By Sorie Sesay
The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Country Planning, on Monday hosted the 5th Regional Conference of the African Land Institutions Network for Community Rights (ALIN) at the Freetown International Conference Center in Aberdeen. The conference brought together government representatives, traditional authorities, civil society organizations, youth networks, and development partners from across the continent to discuss land governance reforms and community land rights in Africa.
Speaking on behalf of President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, Hon. Alhaji Dr. Alpha Sahid Bakarr Kanu, Presidential Spokesman, described land as central to Africa’s identity and prosperity. “Africa’s story begins with land. The continent holds 60% of the world’s arable land and 30% of its mineral resources, yet many rural communities still live without secure land rights,” he said.
Dr. Kanu stressed that securing land rights, empowering women and youth, and ensuring equitable access to land are vital for agricultural transformation, industrialization, and peace. He called for greater investment in modern land transformation systems to make land governance people-centered and inclusive.
Minister of Lands, Housing, and Country Planning, Dr. Turad Senesie, noted that this is the first time Sierra Leone has hosted the ALIN Regional Conference, calling it a “historic moment” for the country and the continent. He highlighted that Sierra Leone has made “landmark progress” in reforming its land governance system through the passage of the Customary Land Rights Act and the National Land Commission Act in 2022.
“These laws abolished discriminatory practices that denied women and minorities equal access to land in the provinces, and they promote justice, transparency, and equity in land administration,” Minister Senesie said. He added that Sierra Leone’s reforms align with the African Union’s Land Policy Framework and Guidelines adopted in 2009.
The minister noted that countries such as Mali, Liberia, Togo, Ghana, and Uganda are pursuing similar reforms to promote secure land tenure, human settlement, and livelihoods. He urged participants to use the conference to assess progress, identify challenges, and strengthen collaboration toward achieving inclusive and sustainable land management across Africa.
Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, who represented President Bio, described the conference as “a major step toward promoting secure land governance across Africa.” He commended regional efforts to strengthen land rights for local communities, calling them essential for social stability and sustainable economic development.
Dr. Jalloh reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to land sector reforms, highlighting the government’s progress in implementing the 2020 Customary Land Rights Act and advancing digital land management systems. He also thanked development partners such as the Rights Resources Initiative Platform, African Land Policy Center, and International Land Coalition for their support.
The Vice President concluded by urging delegates to translate their discussions into actionable policies that will strengthen land governance, protect community rights, and drive Africa’s development agenda forward.
The conference ended with renewed commitment from participating countries to make land governance systems more inclusive, transparent, and responsive to the needs of their citizens.
