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Joint
Report from Oakland Institute and SMNE Sounds Alarm on Foreign Agri-Investments
in Food Insecure Ethiopia
The Oakland Institute (OI) and the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia
(SMNE) announce the June 8, 2011 release of their joint report on Ethiopia;
part of the OI’s more comprehensive report on “Understanding Land Investment
Deals in Africa.” The report on Ethiopia is the outcome of an
extensive in-country study in Ethiopia of what is commonly called
“land-grabs”—government executed land investment deals with foreign investors
that give them the rights to some of the most fertile, water-accessible land in
Ethiopia for up to 99 years at prices as low as $1.19 (USD) per hectare; all
done without consulting the people.
Mr. Obang Metho,
the Executive Director of the SMNE compared the report’s evidence of the total
exclusion of the people from involvement in these illegal land agreements as
reminiscent of the Berlin Conference of 1884, “These illegal land agreements do not represent the interests of the
local people; but instead, represent the interests of the current regime
TPLF/EPRDF and investors; yet, the indigenous people will be impacted forever,
just like those decisions made by past colonialists at the Berlin Conference to
divvy up Africa without the African people present; decisions which have
continued to incite conflict and
instability on the continent ever since.”
The Land Rent
Contractual Agreements for land leases between the Federal Democratic Republic
of Ethiopia (FDRE) and twenty-four companies or individuals; now available for
downloading from the SMNE’s website: http://www.solidaritymovement.org/110510EthiopianAgriculturalPortal.php
You can read about the major loopholes
in land lease contracts: http://www.solidaritymovement.org/110511MajorLoopholesInLandLeaseContracts.php.
You can also read SMNE’s independent comments and recommendations based on this
report which will include observations regarding the political impact and
specific recommendations to address concerns.
And watch 12 minutes video on Ethiopia's land rush: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/21/ethiopia-centre-global-farmland-rush?CMP=twt_gu.
These deals are being carried out behind
closed doors by the one-party government (EPRDF) of Prime Minister Meles
Zenawi, a regime regarded as illegitimate following the elections of both 2005
and 2010; neither of which met international standards. In the 2005 election, 194 peaceful
post-election protestors were killed, some 50,000 were detained and opposition
leaders were imprisoned. In the 2010 election, all political space was closed
and the EPRDF claimed a 99.6% victory. Repressive laws have been created to
criminalize dissent, peaceful protest, assembly of more than three people in
public and restrict civil society; including advocating for human rights. Those
who resist have faced punitive measures including threats, intimidation, loss
of jobs or opportunities, arrest, detention or death.
Mr. Metho states, “This is the Neo-colonization of Africa. If
what is going on in Gambella, Ethiopia was happening in New Delhi, India; in
Oxford, England; in Bismarck, U.S.A; or in Saskatoon, Canada, this would create
outrage! If some Ethiopian company went to India or any of these places and
took over this much land without consultation with those impacted, would the
people of these nations be silent? If it
is not allowed in these places, why is it justified in Ethiopia?”
Ethiopian citizens
are denied the right of private land ownership, but what is essentially
“lifetime land ownership” through these long-term lease agreements are now
being given to foreign investors by this cash-strapped government; now being
accused of laundering 8.2 billion dollars. As this land is leased, hundreds of
thousands of some of the most vulnerable and marginalized Ethiopians are being
forced from their indigenous land and told to build new homes within designated
areas provided by the regime; purportedly to give them greater access to
services; however, these services have failed to materialize. Although the TPLF/EPRDF
regime claims there is no connection between these forced evictions and the
government’s new “villagization projects;” recently released contracts between
the government and these investors promise to provide “vacant land free of any
impediments,” which appears to mean those currently living on the land.
The TPLF/EPRDF regime,
known as a serial perpetrator of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes
and other gross human rights violations, has promised to provide “security” to
ensure “peace” to these investors, which in this case, appears to mean military
force. Mr. Metho, who comes from the Gambella region where the most land has
already been leased and where much information was gathered for this report,
shared his fear that serious human rights abuses may be committed to protect
the investments of these foreign companies. He stated, “Ethiopian defense forces have already become more prevalent in these
areas in anticipation of resistance from the people to these planned
resettlements. If force is used, more people will die.”
Ethiopians are in
favor of foreign investment, agricultural development and economic expansion,
but not under these conditions where the opportunity is only available to
regime cronies and foreign investors willing to work with this corrupt regime.
As these subsistence farmers become impoverished and lose the means to sustain
themselves and their families, many of these displaced people may have no other
option than to work as a cheap labor force on their own ancestral land. Even if
they could afford to pay for the food, most is unashamedly said to be destined
for export to places like Saudi Arabia, India, China and beyond. Other land
will be used for non-food production such as for flowers and bio-fuels.
The official
statement by Mr. Abera Deressa, Ethiopian Minister of State for Agriculture
reflects that when he said “The
government is advising American, Canadian, Chinese and Indian investors to grow
“high value” crops including soya beans, palm oil and bio-fuels, rather than
cereals, to help feed the approximately 13 million Ethiopians that require some
form of food aid. If we get money we can buy food anywhere,” “Then we can solve
the food problem.” In a country that is nearly synonymous with the image of
famine and hunger and where over thirteen million people are now depending on
food aid; this plan to “give away” up to seven million hectares of land is both
outrageous and immoral.
The findings of
the report also indicate the alarming lack of oversight in protecting the
environment and wildlife in the area; particularly as most of the land being
leased is the ecologically fragile area of the headwaters of the Upper Nile.
Deforestation is rapidly being carried out as virgin forests are being
destroyed. Yet, the TPLF/EPRDF government shows little concern for either the
well being of the people or the future environmental impact in Ethiopia or downstream
in Sudan, Egypt or beyond.
Ethiopia does not
have to be one of the poorest countries in the world for it is rich in natural
resources, fertile land, abundant water and hardworking people; however, it has
been plagued with governments of the past who did not care about the people;
but never before have Ethiopians faced the crisis of losing their own land
right from underneath their feet like is now being done by Meles Zenawi.
Despite receiving billions of dollars of aid over the last decade, why has there
been such little investment into the agricultural development for Ethiopians
who still largely use antiquated farming methods? Why has this regime refused
to budge on private land ownership and instead, held a tight grip on a medieval
land tenure system that has not changed since the time of Haile Selassie? This
new trend is simply a continuation of the feudal system that makes landowners
of a few while all others remain in poverty. The only difference is the
landowners are now foreigners or cronies who have a vested interest in this
unpopular regime.
As the report
indicates, most of the people will be excluded from the benefits despite the
increasing hunger in the country; only deepened in seriousness due to a growing
population. When Meles took over nearly
twenty years ago; reportedly, he claimed a goal in ten years would be for
Ethiopians to eat three meals a day. But
today, hunger and starvation, typically found most in the rural areas and in
the dryer regions in the north, are now also affecting those in the urban
centers. Many Ethiopian families eat in shifts and are surviving on only one
meal or less a day. Children are fainting in school for lack of food. Those
with adequate means are finding it increasingly difficult to find some of the
most basic staples such as oil, sugar and teff—used to make the national dish
of Ethiopians—injera.
Witnesses within
the report speak to the widespread anger over these land grabs; only silenced
due to fear of retaliation from this brutal regime; however, when it is
combined with the desperate conditions of hungry Ethiopians, it is only a
matter of time before diverse people will come together to demand change. Ethiopians
seek the freedom that will enable them to take responsibility to feed
themselves rather than to depend on outsiders for food aid; however, the
alarming explosion of these land deals threatens the future of the entire
country in ever accomplishing that goal.
TPLF/EPRDF is a
Marxist-Leninist government that tries to hide under the cloak of democracy;
yet, donor countries such as the U.S., the U.K, Canada, Germany, Norway, France
and others have prolonged its rule by providing huge amounts of foreign aid
while turning a blind eye to its human rights abuses, repression of civil
rights, the perversion of the rule of law and now the large-scale robbery of
the peoples’ land and assets.
On the other hand,
support for this dictatorship is undermining investment opportunities from
these same and other countries that care about advancing democratic principles
and a market-based economy as opposed to those who place no demands on
dictatorial regimes. Laws such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act of
2000 (US) and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (US) erect much-needed ethical
barriers to doing business with a corrupt regime; however, it makes it easier
for countries without such ethically-based restrictions to forge ahead in
Ethiopia. Ethiopians want to do business in an open global market, but want
agreements that will benefit all parties and be sustainable.
The lack of
transparency in these deals is clearly calculated; particularly in light of the
February 18, 2010 report from the Financial Action Task Force
(FATF) that
found Ethiopia to be one of the five most at risk countries in
the world for money laundering (AML) and the financing of terrorism (CFT);
stating that the lack of such compliance made not only Ethiopia, but also
others involved with them, whether inside or outside their borders, extremely
vulnerable to illicit activities. (http://www.fatf-gafi.org/dataoecd/34/29/44636171.pdf).
Undoubtedly, the TPLF/EPRDF
will attempt to discredit this joint report; as they have done with reports
from groups such as Human Rights Watch, the European Union and the U.S. State
Department’s yearly human rights reports; however, the people on the ground,
from different regions and towns throughout Ethiopia speak a consistent
testimony. Some of these witnesses have already been threatened; forcing them
to seek safety outside of Ethiopia along with thousands of Ethiopians scattered
throughout the world—a strong testimony of the oppressive nature of this regime
that has made life unbearable for its citizens. This is a regime that wants the
resources, but not the people. Ethiopians
people have been robbed of their land and their dignity with nothing with which
to replace it.
Recently, one of
the pro-regime newspapers (Ethio-channel) reported Meles Zenawi’s brazen
response to the criticisms of these land giveaways as he said, “If
we have to cry, we should not be crying for the hundred thousand (100, 000)
hectares of farmland we have already given away to the Indians, but for the 3
million hectares of farmland we are
about to give away.” (English translation from Amharic).
In response to
this Mr. Metho warns, “We, the people of
Ethiopia, are even now working through various available mechanisms to make
sure those who are involved in corruption, human rights violations and in the
accumulation of ill-gained wealth will be held accountable. Free countries no
longer are the safe-havens of the past.”
To the current and
potential investors in Ethiopia Mr. Metho advises extreme caution. He asks, “Are you aware of the “unspoken” dark side
of these land investment deals; particularly the devastating impact on the
lives of the people? Whose side will you be on? Investors should
understand that you will be doing business with an unelected government that
took power by force, manipulation and corruption and therefore does not possess
the legitimate authority to negotiate in the name of the Ethiopian people. It
is risky to partner with a government whose right to govern is being challenged
by the majority of the people. Once this regime falls or implodes, these agreements
will not be binding!”
=======================ENDS=======================.
For media enquiries,
including interview requests, contact Mr. Obang Metho, Executive Director of
the SMNE. Phone 202 725-1616 or
Email: Obang@solidaritymovement.org.
The SMNE is a
non-violent, non-political, grassroots social justice movement of diverse
Ethiopians; committed to bringing truth, justice, freedom, equality,
reconciliation, accountability and respect for human and civil rights to the
people of Ethiopia and beyond. The SMNE has branches in the United States,
Canada and United Kingdom and chapters in various cities and countries
throughout the world, including within Ethiopia.
You can find more about
the SMNE through its website at: www.solidaritymovement.org.
Or OI through its website at http://www.oaklandinstitute.org/
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