Cartagena: Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso will lead a high-level South African delegation to Cartagena, Colombia, for the International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ICARRD+20) this week. The conference, which marks 20 years since the inaugural event in Porto Alegre, Brazil, convenes at a time of renewed global focus on agrarian reform, food sovereignty, and the democratic governance of natural resources.

According to South African Government News Agency, the summit, taking place from 24 to 28 February 2026, provides a strategic platform for governments, social movements, and international organizations to deliberate on pressing global challenges, including land and water grabbing, climate change vulnerabilities, and the need for redistributive land reform. Nyhontso is expected to participate in several high-level bilateral engagements during the conference. These include consultations with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on the launch of the Global Land Observatory and strengthened collaboration on rural development initiatives.

The Minister is also scheduled to meet with international leaders, including representatives from Brazil and other countries facing similar land reform and agrarian justice challenges, to exchange perspectives on land governance, environmental sustainability, and climate justice. In addition, the Minister will take part in ministerial sessions focusing on the balance and perspectives of agrarian reform and its role in fostering peace, democracy, and equitable development.

The South African delegation comprises members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Land Reform and Rural Development, as well as senior officials from the department. The delegation will participate in a series of key plenaries and high-level segments, including the inaugural plenary titled "Earth: past, present and future: the struggle of the peoples for Agrarian Reform". Thematic sessions will also be held to discuss the geopolitics of resources, including control over land, oil, and minerals.

The conference includes a plenary session titled "10 years for Agrarian Reform", which aims to secure global commitments for structural transformation. "The Minister and the Department of Land Reform views this conference as an essential entry point for the African preparatory process, ensuring that the continent's priorities regarding land governance and dignified livelihoods are central to the global agenda," the department said.