Food System

Palm oil and land grabbing in Cameroon, an open letter to Bolloré

February 22, 2025

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On February 17, 2025, a critical issue concerning palm oil and land grabbing in Cameroon reached a boiling point. The Socapalm plantation, a subsidiary of the Socfin Group, participated by the Bolloré Group, has been at the center of a growing conflict with local communities in Edéa, Sanaga-Maritime.

This conflict stems from the company’s replanting project, which has severely impacted the livelihoods of nearby villagers, particularly women.

The situation highlights broader concerns about land grabbing, environmental degradation, and human rights violations associated with Socfin’s operations across Africa and Asia. An open letter delves into the details of the conflict, its implications, and the urgent need for resolution.

Table of Contents

Background: Socapalm and the replanting project

Socapalm, a major player in Cameroon’s palm oil industry, controls over 58,000 hectares of oil palm plantations. Acquired during the privatization of Cameroon’s agro-industry in 2000, Socapalm is majority-owned by Socfinaf, a Luxembourg-based holding company partially controlled by the Bolloré Group. Since 2021, Socapalm has been replanting oil palms in Edéa to rejuvenate its aging plantations. While this initiative aims to boost productivity, it has come at a significant cost to local communities.

The replanting project has encroached on vital lands traditionally used by villagers for farming, fishing, and cultural practices. Sacred sites have been desecrated, and women, who rely heavily on these lands for subsistence, have been disproportionately affected. The lack of access to customary lands has sparked widespread discontent, leading to organized resistance and escalating tensions.

The conflict in Apouh: a case study

The village of Apouh in Ngog (Cameroon) has become a focal point of the conflict. Villagers expected that the removal of old palm trees would allow them to reclaim their ancestral lands, as stipulated in the 2000 lease agreement between Socapalm and the Cameroonian government. However, this has not been the case. Instead, the replanting has further restricted their access to land, exacerbating food insecurity and economic hardship.

In response, the women of Apouh formed the Association of Socapalm Edéa Riverside Women (AFRISE) to advocate for their rights. Between 2021 and 2024, AFRISE submitted documented evidence, testimonies, and formal requests to Socapalm, local authorities, and government bodies, including the Ministry of Land Affairs (2022) and the Human Rights Commission (2024). Despite these efforts, their demands remain unmet.

Frustrated by the lack of progress, the women took matters into their own hands by planting plantain bananas on their customary lands. In retaliation, they faced legal threats, including fines and imprisonment, further intensifying the conflict.

Broader Implications: Socfin’s Operations Across Africa and Asia

The situation in Apouh is not an isolated incident. Similar conflicts have been reported in other countries where Socfin operates, including Nigeria, Cambodia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Ghana. A recent report by the Earthworm Foundation, commissioned by Socfin, found that 58% of community complaints regarding land grabbing, water pollution, gender-based violence, and labor rights abuses were either ‘founded’ or ‘partially founded’.

Pension funds divestments

These findings have prompted international scrutiny. Swiss and Norwegian pension funds have been urged to divest from Bolloré SE due to its involvement in Socfin and its association with these injustices. UK-based investors are also considering similar actions.

‘For years, the French Bolloré Group has been accused of failing to fulfil its duty of care regarding human rights abuses in connection with rubber and palm oil plantations in Africa and Asia. Given the company’s unwillingness to engage in dialogue on this issue, SVVK has decided to recommend the company’s exclusion’.

‘The Council on Ethics recommends that the companies Compagnie de l’Odet SE and Bolloré SE be excluded from investment by the Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global due to the risk that the companies are contributing to serious and systematic human rights abuses. The recommendation relates primarily to working conditions at oil palm plantations in Cameroon and their consequences for local communities’.

The urgent need for resolution

The land conflict in Apouh is a pressing issue that demands immediate attention. The rights and well-being of local communities must be prioritized to ensure social cohesion and sustainable development. Socapalm and the Socfin Group must take concrete steps to address the grievances of the affected communities. This includes:

1) granting access to customary lands. Villagers should be allowed to use their ancestral lands for subsistence farming and cultural practices;

2) halting criminalization. Legal actions against villagers exercising their rights must cease immediately;

3) engaging in meaningful dialogue. Socapalm should collaborate with community representatives, local authorities, and civil society organizations to find lasting solutions.

Conclusion

The conflict between Socapalm and the communities of Apouh underscores the need for corporate accountability and respect for human rights in agro-industrial operations. As global attention grows, Socapalm and the Socfin Group must act swiftly to resolve these issues and restore trust with the affected communities.

The future of sustainable palm oil production, if ever possible, depends on balancing economic interests with social and environmental responsibility. By addressing these challenges head-on, Socapalm and the Socfin Group must set a precedent for ethical and sustainable agro-industrial practices in Africa and beyond.

Dario Dongo

Credit cover: Victoria Schneider.‘If they take our lands, we’ll be dead’: Cameroon village battles palm oil giant. Image by Dylan Collins. Mongabay. 26.6.20 https://tinyurl.com/2wvc937z