Large Scale Land Acquisitions In Sub-Saharan Africa: The New Scramble?

Abstract

Almost three-fourths of the world’s recent “land grabs” have occurred in sub-Saharan Africa, estimated at some 50 million hectares, which is almost equal to the size of Spain. As most of the recent land acquisitions involve farmland, and since agriculture is so vital to Africa’s ability to reduce poverty and hunger, this is a particularly important topic. These large acquisitions raise concerns about the dangers of neglecting local needs and exacerbating social tensions in already fragile states.