Ivory Coast will develop a roadmap aimed at strengthening mediation in the prevention and management of land conflicts. The announcement was made on Saturday, September 26, in Yamoussoukro, at the closing of the National Forum on Land and Social Cohesion.
Organized over three days by the Mediator of the Republic, the forum brought together public actors, representatives of local authorities, land professionals, and civil society organizations to discuss tensions related to access, occupation, and the securing of land.
Two priorities: securing rights and strengthening mediation
The work resulted in several recommendations, notably the securing of land rights in rural and urban areas and the strengthening of prevention and mediation mechanisms. The objective is to better address the recurring causes of land-related conflicts before they escalate into community tensions.
The future roadmap must translate these recommendations into operational actions. It should notably specify the role of mediation mechanisms in disputes involving individuals, communities, economic operators, and administrations.
The forum was held at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Foundation for Peace Research. The participants worked around three main themes: the state of land governance, the effects of conflicts on social cohesion, and the role of mediation in their sustainable resolution.
