Sierra Leone’s Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has urged African nations to strengthen collaboration on securing community land rights and building governance systems that promote stability, equity, and sustainable development.
Speaking at the opening of the 5th Regional Conference of the Africa Land Institutions Network for Community Rights (ALIN) in Freetown, Jalloh said African governments must find a balance between investment-driven growth and the protection of land rights.
“If we want to expand domestic resources, we must drive investment and trade to boost production,” he told delegates at the Bintumani International Conference Centre. “But the question is, how do we balance the need for investment with the protection of land rights?”
The Vice President praised Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning for shifting its focus from transactional land dealings to governance reforms aimed at transparency and accountability.
He also underscored the importance of addressing climate change as part of the land governance agenda, noting that improved land management could help transform potential sources of conflict into opportunities for sustainable livelihoods and growth.
Jalloh reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s leadership in land reform, citing the 2022 Customary Land Rights Act, which legally recognizes customary land ownership, and ongoing digital initiatives to modernize land administration.
He called on participants to use the conference to share best practices and strengthen institutional capacity across Africa.
“Make no mistake,” he said. “Land governance is, and will continue to be, one of the most important issues for generations to come.”
The three-day conference brings together land policy experts, government officials, and civil society leaders from across Africa to discuss reforms, investment, and community rights in land governance.
By Umu King
