Linking open data for land rights

The land issue, closely linked to natural resources, is a major challenge for economic and social development in Guinea. However, various factors contribute to weakening access to land for communities in urban and rural areas. In particular, existing land policies and regulations, which are old, poorly harmonized and not enforced, do not adequately protect the land rights of local populations. The lack of transparency and poor governance of resources by the Guinean state add to the shortcomings of the law.

Eritrea has been described as a ‘garrison state’[1].  Following decades of war to win independence from Ethiopia in 1991, any social gains made by the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF) during the liberation struggle were rapidly eroded.  Newly independent Eritrea quickly fell under the authoritarian rule of Isaias Afwerki, who violently purged all political opposition, shelved the constitution, and disbanded the National Assembly to consolidate his personal rule which persists to the present day.