Message to China exim bank: Hear Our Voices Before EACOP Destroys Our Communities
Over 2,400 households in Uganda affected by the controversial East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) sent a clear message to Chinese lenders Sinosure and China Exim Bank, who intend to finance over half of EACOP's $3 billion cost:
The communities detailed their experiences of wrongful displacement, income loss, militarization, and environmental degradation under this project, which is being forced upon them by CNOOC, Total, and their governments.
As farmers relying on a stable climate and livelihoods from Lake Albert's fisheries and regional farmland, they shared fears of accelerating deforestation, biodiversity threats, and water contamination from EACOP's enabling infrastructure. They also expressed frustration over broken grievance systems and unfulfilled promises of proper restoration.
Their message to Sinosure and Exim Bank is simple: come see EACOP's damage firsthand before funding more of the same. This invitation reflects these communities' deep connection to and care for their land and their struggle to protect it from oil interests plotting its destruction.
Click on this link to read the full press release from the EACOP-Network for more details on their situation and demands. Formed in March 2023, the network comprises persons directly affected by EACOP across six districts in Uganda where land is being acquired.
Community organizations in both Uganda and Tanzania facing similar struggles contributed to the powerful statement expressing their unified concerns. It lays bare EACOP's unacceptable impacts and the lack of true consultation with those whose lives hang in the balance.
