In January 2025, Project 21 addressed HLP issues in the Central Sahel, highlighting increasing property violation incidents leading to forced displacement. Displaced individuals reported greater shelter needs than host communities, necessitating construction and rehabilitation efforts. Effective land management and collaboration between humanitarian, development, and peace sectors are vital for addressing these interrelated challenges and fostering community integration.
In January 2025, Project 21 highlighted critical housing, land, and property (HLP) issues affecting Burkina Faso, Mali, and Western Niger. Incidents of property rights violations have significantly surged; in 2024, 40% of reported protection incidents arose from community alerts indicating HLP challenges, which have exacerbated intercommunity tensions. Such issues commonly manifest as extortion, theft, and property destruction, increasing the vulnerability of civilians in these regions and leading families to flee their homes.
The scale of forced displacement has intensified shelter needs, with forcibly displaced individuals indicating a demand for housing that was double that of host communities. Approximately half of those surveyed from both displaced and host populations identified either construction or rehabilitation efforts as their primary housing need, illustrating the deeper structural significance of HLP issues in the Central Sahel. Displacement further escalates existing HLP challenges, complicating access to essential services, resources, and employment opportunities in semi-urban areas where land access is governed by conflicting customary and statutory legal systems.
Land management at this intersection of rights and needs is critical for delivering effective assistance. Prioritizing secure land access is essential before undertaking initiatives such as providing shelters or establishing agricultural activities. Currently, donations remain the primary method for acquiring land, accounting for 65% of land access methods in the region. Notably, community sentiments indicate that resolving HLP issues could enhance their willingness to voluntarily return to their places of origin and integrate into host communities.
The nexus of land rights, emergency housing needs, infrastructure deficiencies, and land administration requires strengthened collaboration between humanitarian and development sectors, as well as peacebuilding strategies. There is a pressing need for coherent approaches to address the complex nature of HLP issues, emphasizing the importance of integrative actions and partnerships to support effective and sustainable resolutions.
In summary, the urgent HLP issues in the Central Sahel underscore the interconnectedness of land rights, housing accessibility, and displacement challenges. Addressing these problems requires coordinated efforts among various sectors to improve land management and mitigate risks of forced evictions. The data reveal significant shelter needs among displaced populations, necessitating a focus on secure land access and community engagement to foster stability and peace.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
