Land reform in Africa is challenging the power of chiefs
Activists want to give communities more of a say
Many an investor has taken the road east from Freetown, the capital, into the heart of Sierra Leone seeking land for plantations or mines. Their journey invariably takes them to the door of a local chief. A system based on private land titles reaches no farther inland than the salty sea air.
This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “Custom redesigned”
From the October 14th 2023 edition
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