Madagascar moves to reclaim colonial-era land still registered to foreigners

Solomon Ekanem, Business Insider

The island nation has cleared a major legal hurdle in its effort to reclaim certain land titles dating back to the colonial era, putting the Indian Ocean island nation among African countries seeking to address the long-term effects of colonial-era land ownership.

The country’s High Constitutional Court upheld Law No. 2026-007 on August 3, declaring it constitutional and clearing the way for the state to take ownership of land still registered in the names of foreign nationals from the colonial period.

The law was adopted by Madagascar’s National Assembly on July 1, 2026.

The legislation establishes a legal framework for the automatic transfer of qualifying land titles to the Malagasy state. Reports on the law indicate that June 26, 1960—the eve of Madagascar’s independence—serves as the key historical cut-off date.

Certain properties, including diplomatic and consular land and properties that have already been transferred to Malagasy owners, are excluded.

A push to close the colonial land gap

The measure reflects a broader question confronting African governments decades after independence: how to deal with land ownership structures created during colonial rule that continue to shape access to valuable property.

Madagascar’s approach is particularly focused on titles that remain in foreign names, rather than a blanket confiscation of land owned by foreigners today.

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Late last year, Algeria outlawed colonization by France, the same country that invaded Madagascar.

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