The African Initiative on Food Security and Environment (AIFE), a Ugandan human and environmental rights organisation has received a boost in its protests against the construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) from across the continent.
Since Wednesday, activists from across various countries of Africa have participated in stop-EACOP campaigns, targeting their communication primarily to the Chinese government.
In Uganda, the country of origin of the EACOP, about one hundred people matched on the Chinese Embassy to deliver a protest note to the ambassador.
The Uganda Police Force brutalized many and arrested 33 including a foreign national.
In Tanzania, youths also held a protest against the EACOP project calling on the Chinese not to be “the last resort for dirty energy.”
The Chinese embassy in South Africa was also hit with protests, also receiving a heavy-handed response from the country’s police force.
Zaki Mamdoo, the campaign coordinator urged the Chinese to take their “hands off African land.”
“The Chinese through their government and institutions are playing a vital role in the development of the EACOP and further exacerbating not only the climate crisis on a global scale, but also the socio-economic harm the communities are already reeling from,” Mamdoo said in his address to the press.
Lucky Twala, a participant in the protest called on the whole continent to rise up against the project. “We need to mobilise the entire continent as a whole, so that they can understand our struggle (and) grievances.”
They also lambasted continued arrest and harassment of activists in Uganda. “It is unacceptable the way they have been treated. Many have been arrested and tortured, and spent so many months in jail…” Shawn Fotley said.
Nigerian youth also called on the Chinese government to stand with the people on the right side of history and not finance the EACOP projects.
The StopEACOP Nigeria lead Smith Nwokocha said that China’s reported support is in stark contrast with the assessment of major global financial institutions that have withdrawn their support and they are confused as to why China would consider supporting such problematic projects majorly owned by a French company.
“China has also pledged to support Africa and developing countries in combating climate change. If China supports the EACOP and associated oil field projects, it will seriously undermine the valuable efforts it has made so far.”
