Declaration on land issues and challenges in Africa

WE, the Heads of States and Government of the African Union, meeting at our Thirteenth Ordinary Session in Sirte, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, from 1 to 3 July 2009;

REAFFIRMING the commitments we have made to poverty eradication with the view to raising the living standards of our peoples and the wellbeing of our future generations;

RECOGNISING the centrality of land to sustainable socio-economic growth, development and the security of the social, economic and cultural livelihoods of our people;

AWARE of the rich heritage of Africa’s land and related resources especially its unique natural eco-systems;

FURTHER AWARE of the diversity and complexity of the systems under which land and related resources are held, managed and used;

NOTING the diversity of issues and challenges facing access to, use and management of land resources; and the threat relating to land and related resources including those arising from changes in the global, political and economic environment;