(Ecofin Agency) - During a meeting at the Stade de la Paix of Bouaké (central-north Cote d’Ivoire), Ivorian President, Alassane Ouattara announced that a rural land agency would be established before the end of the year.

The agency which will focus on ending all conflicts related to rural lands is one of the major measures developed under the government’s new land policy. “I would like to once more talk about the land issue in rural areas. I would like you to know, let me repeat it one more time, that this time, we have specified in the constitution that rural lands belong to Ivoirians and only them, the Ivorian State and its arms. Before the year ends, we will put up an agency dedicated to rural lands which will help solve land-related issues, and those involving their delineation in addition to making sure that your lands can be used as collateral for a bank loan, or preserve them as inheritance for your children and grandchildren. So no one can come take your lands from you and I know how important that is for our farmers,” the president said.    

It should be recalled that the announcement comes on the sidelines of referendum campaign for the adoption of a new constitution in Cote d’Ivoire which is to end on October 30, 2016.

Souha Touré