December 7, 2025 (TADJOURAH, Djibouti): Djibouti has marked an important milestone in strengthening its land governance framework with the Launch of the Validation Workshop for the Draft National Land Policy of the Republic of Djibouti, held in Tadjourah on 6–7 December 2025. Supported by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the workshop convenes key ministries, regional authorities, technical experts, and national institutions to review and validate the proposed National Land Policy (NLP).
The draft policy is the outcome of a rigorous and participatory development process led by the Directorate of Domain and the Ministry of Town, Urbanism and Habitat, with IGAD providing continuous technical backstopping. Grounded in socio-land assessments, institutional analyses and regional consultations, including engagements in Dikhil and Tadjourah, the policy aims to modernise Djibouti’s land sector, respond to rising land pressures, reduce litigation, and promote equitable, transparent, and efficient land administration nationwide.
The Validation Workshop was officiated by the PS Ministry of Budget, Mr Simon Mibrathu, he said in his remarks “The provisional report that brings us together today represents an important piece of work, the result of technical analyses, consultations, and field observations. It highlights the challenges we face: scarcity of land resources, urban pressures, growing housing needs, investment requirements, and the need to prevent conflicts related to land use or allocation.”
Speaking on behalf of Mr Daher Elmi, Director of Agriculture and Environment Division at IGAD, Ms Joselyn Bigirwa, Head of Mission to the Republic of Uganda and Acting Coordinator of the IGAD Land Governance Programme, underscored the significance of this step for the country’s development trajectory:
“This policy lays a strong foundation for a more inclusive, transparent, and resilient land governance system. By aligning national reforms with regional principles, Djibouti is reinforcing tenure security, promoting gender equality, and ensuring that land contributes to long-term social and economic transformation. IGAD is proud to support this important national endeavour.”
Throughout the two-day workshop, participants are examining key components of the draft policy, including diagnostic findings, strategic orientations, and implementation modalities. Discussions address critical themes such as rural and urban tenure security, land-use planning, conflict resolution, transparency in land administration, and improved access to land for women, youth, and other vulnerable groups.
The workshop is expected to build a consolidated national consensus around the recommendations and pave the way for the formal validation of the policy, followed by the development of a structured roadmap for implementation. This effort aligns with IGAD’s regional mandate to promote harmonised, gender-responsive, and people-centred land governance across its Member States.
By accompanying Djibouti in this process, IGAD continues to reinforce institutional capacity, advance equitable development, and foster greater resilience across the Horn of Africa. This whole process has been Possible with financial support from the Sweden Government, through the Swedish Embassy in Ethiopia.
