Africa’s Land Struggle Holds Back Economic Growth and Justice
Africa's development is hindered by unresolved historical injustices related to land. Land dispossession, a legacy of colonialism, continues to constrain the continent's social and economic progress. Calls for reparations echo, but many former colonial powers have yet to respond.
South Africa's Restitution Programme has settled 83,614 land claims since 1994, redistributing 5.9 million hectares to vulnerable groups. However, the process is vast and ongoing. Elsewhere, in Namibia, up to 70% of land remains in the hands of white farmers, descendants of colonial settlers, with no clear reparations from Germany.
Land is the foundation of food security, social development, and economic stability in Africa. Yet, poor land governance, a remnant of colonial rule, perpetuates inequality. Africa has long called for reparations for colonial wrongs and slavery, but the response from former colonial powers has been limited.
Reparations are not just about compensation, but also about healing and transforming systems that perpetuate inequality. Africa's call for reparations for land dispossession is a step towards addressing historical injustices and unlocking the continent's full potential.
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