Land Law in the Eritrean State

Abstract

Land tenure is a fundamental and – at the same time – very sensitive issue in Africa. This is a common denominator in almost every part of the continent, and Eritrea is not an exception in this regard. The paper illustrates the development of land law in post-independence Eritrea, from the beginning of the development of the Eritrean legal system to the newly issued (but not yet in force) Civil Code. While illustrating the different developments of land tenure in Eritrea, the paper intends to show how traditional law continues to be the reference point for Eritreans with reference to land management, despite any legislative attempt to set it aside.