Madagascar Reclaims Colonial-Era Land in Fresh Push for Economic Sovereignty

Madagascar has taken a significant step towards reclaiming land linked to its colonial past, with the country's High Constitutional Court approving legislation that allows the state to take ownership of certain properties still registered in the names of foreign settlers.

The court ruled on August 3, 2026, that Law No. 2026-007 is constitutional, paving the way for the government to reclaim qualifying properties.

The law uses June 26, 1960, the date Madagascar gained independence, as its cut-off point. Land that was still registered in a foreign name on that date and was never subsequently transferred to a Malagasy citizen will become state property.

The reform is being presented as part of Madagascar's efforts to complete the transfer of colonial-era land, restore the rights of Malagasy citizens and strengthen national control over strategic property.

The National Assembly approved the law on July 1 before it was sent to the Constitutional Court.

Protecting existing ownership

The law contains several exemptions. It does not apply to land occupied by foreign diplomatic and consular missions, while properties that had already been transferred to Malagasy citizens before independence are protected.

Foreign nationals who later acquired Malagasy citizenship and formally registered their naturalisation with the land authorities are also exempt.

These provisions are intended to protect legitimate ownership while addressing unresolved colonial-era land registrations.

A new chapter in decolonisation

Although France is not specifically named, the legislation carries a strong historical message.

French colonial rule left behind land records in the names of foreign settlers, some of which remained unresolved for decades after independence.

The new law places land ownership, economic empowerment and national sovereignty at the centre of Madagascar's continuing decolonisation process.

It also comes against the background of Madagascar's long-running territorial dispute with France over the Scattered Islands in the Mozambique Channel.

Zimbabwe's land reform as an African example

Madagascar's move brings renewed attention to Zimbabwe, which is often cited as one of Africa's most significant examples of post-colonial land redistribution.

Following independence in 1980, Zimbabwe inherited a highly unequal land ownership structure shaped by colonial policies. The country's Fast Track Land Reform Programme, launched in 2000, accelerated the redistribution of large commercial farms to indigenous Zimbabweans.

The programme fundamentally changed the country's land ownership landscape, enabling thousands of indigenous families and farmers to gain access to agricultural land.

Zimbabwe's land reform has also been associated with the growth of indigenous participation in agriculture, the expansion of smallholder farming and the emergence of new farmers who previously had limited access to productive land.

The redistribution created opportunities for communities to participate more directly in agricultural production and strengthened the principle that land should play a broader role in empowering the country's citizens.

Zimbabwe's experience continues to feature prominently in African discussions about land sovereignty, economic empowerment and correcting historical inequalities created under colonial rule.

Land as an economic resource

For Madagascar, supporters believe the new legislation could similarly open opportunities for Malagasy citizens to gain greater access to legally recognised land.

State ownership of reclaimed properties could eventually allow some of the land to be allocated to citizens through existing administrative processes, potentially supporting agriculture, investment and local economic development.

Secure land tenure can also give farmers greater confidence to invest in their properties, improve productivity and participate more effectively in the formal economy.

The road ahead

The Constitutional Court ruling is only the first step. The government must still promulgate and publish the legislation before implementation can begin.

Authorities will then need to identify affected properties, verify historical ownership records, and transfer qualifying land into the state portfolio.

The government will also have to determine how the reclaimed properties are allocated and ensure that the process is transparent and beneficial to Malagasy citizens.

Additional Reporting by Africanews and other agencies.