According to Mongabay, an investigation by the Earthworm Foundation into the Belgian company Socfin's oil palm plantations in Cameroon and Sierra Leone has confirmed several human rights abuses, including sexual violence and land conflicts. The investigation revealed that in Cameroon, the Socfin Agricultural Company (SAC) was found lacking in due diligence and safeguards. This has resulted in pollution in rivers, lakes, and lagoons near the company's activities, affecting local water sources that communities depend on. There were also instances where the company failed to implement measures proposed in environmental assessments to mitigate air pollution, impacting the health and environment of nearby communities. The investigators also noted widespread issues of sexual harassment and gender-based violence at the plantation. In addition, there are ongoing disputes over land and lease agreements. Issues with the implementation of concession agreements and compensation schemes were identified, showing that promises made to local communities have not been fully honoured. In response to such human rights violence and pollution, recommendations for strengthening reporting mechanisms were made. Some progress has been observed with a land mapping exercise, yet scepticism persists about Socfin's accountability and effectiveness in implementing changes.
Keywords: Sub-Saharan Africa, Cameroon, palm oil, primary production, human rights violations, land grabbing
Sources: https://news.mongabay.com/2024/06/investigation-confirms-more-abuses-on-nigeria-sierra-leone-socfin-plantations/
Cameroon’s Congo River basin forest sector is exposed to illegal timber logging as demand for high-quality wood in Asia is growing. Due in part to ineffective forestry sector governance and management, the region is emerging as a focal area for local and international criminal actors. The Congo Basin’s rainforests supply a wide range of wood species, including African teak, rosewood, bubinga, iroko, sapele, and moabi, to key high demand markets such as China and Vietnam. It is estimated that up to 50% of the annual wood harvested in Cameroon is from small-scale logging, most of which is illegal. At the borders, traffickers falsely declare tree species to pass illegally harvested timber off as legal, with this wood then trafficked into neighboring countries and exported on to consumer markets.
According to the research organisation ENACT Africa, both private sector and state operators can be involved in this illegal trade, with the industry in Cameroon steeped in corruption. A key concern is bribe-taking among senior officials, civil servants, and companies in exchange for timber logging permits. Unfortunately, well-meaning government authorities also often lack the resources needed to effectively monitor the country’s vast forests.
Keywords: Sub-Saharan Africa, Cameroon, timber, trade and transport, fraudulent documentation, illegal timber trade, illegal logging
Source: https://enact-africa.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/pages/1712552160098-policy%20brief-30_2.pdf
A report by Afrik 21 has found that the export of Cameroonian timber to Vietnam involves significant environmental and fiscal abuses, including illegal logging and false invoicing. To safeguard its forest biodiversity, which covers 48% of the country, Cameroon enacted a law in 1999 that strictly bans the export of certain wood species in log form, including doussie, mukulungu, sapelli, padouk, and movingui. However, after a three-year investigation into the timber trade route between Cameroon and Vietnam, the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and the Centre for Environment and Development (CED) have uncovered the extent of illegal activities in the sector, characterised by corruption, false invoicing, and unlawful logging. These illegal activities allow loggers to largely bypass existing regulations. The report reveals that at least 132,000 m³ of logs were exported from Cameroon to Vietnam in violation of forestry regulations from January 2016 to July 2020. This illegal trade has resulted in an estimated loss of $58 million in public revenue during this time period. The report also suggests that state agents may be complicit in the illegal timber trade.
Keywords: Sub-Saharan Africa, Cameroon, timber, primary production, trade and transport, illegal logging, illegal timber trade, fraudulent documentation, trade misinvoicing, corruption and bribery, tax evasion
Sources: https://www.afrik21.africa/en/cameroon-timber-trafficking-with-vietnam-threatens-biodiversity-and-the-economy/
An industrial rubber project in Cameroon is now being condemned for causing the largest single rainforest destruction in Central Africa, according to Rainforest Foundation UK. In a statement released in November 2018, the representatives from 21 surrounding villages denounced the effects of the Sud-Cameroun Hevea (Sudcam) project on the rights and livelihoods. Established in 2008, Sudcam was granted nearly 60,000 hectares of forest without conducting an environmental impact assessment or consulting the numerous communities affected. Such extensive land clearing has severely affected local and indigenous Baka communities. Approximately 30 communities rely on the area granted to Sudcam for hunting, fishing, farming, and collecting forest products. Large-scale rainforest destruction in the area therefore poses a significant threat to local livelihoods. In addition, in 2015, three indigenous Baka communities living in the forest were forcibly evicted to make way for the plantation. Around 120 people were forced to seek shelter in neighbouring Bantu villages, where they now live in poor conditions and face severe discrimination and human rights abuses. To date, none of these individuals have received any compensation for their lost livelihoods.
Keywords: Sub-Saharan Africa, Cameroon, rubber, primary production, Indigenous rights violations, land grabbing, deforestation
Sources: https://www.rainforestfoundationuk.org/cameroon-communities-speak-out-about-impacts-of-large-rubber-plantation/
Cameroon faces significant challenges in relation to children's rights, particularly in artisanal mining areas. These areas employ many children, who are left exposed to several forms of exploitation, one of the most severe issues being sexual exploitation. According to a 2023 UNICEF report, around 20,000 children in these areas are survivors of sexual exploitation, with half of them being girls. These children are often exploited by mineral buyers, police officers, and other adults, forced into prostitution, sexual services, or marriages with adult men. This exploitation is primarily due to poverty, as well as a lack of education, and a weak state presence in these areas. The consequences for children who are sexually exploited are severe, including mental health issues, physical violence, school dropouts, and increased involvement in crime and prostitution. Despite efforts by the Cameroonian government and civil society organisations to combat this issue, measures employed are not sufficient. Organisations like the Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD) play a crucial role in combating child sexual exploitation by organising awareness sessions and providing support to child survivors, including legal, medical, and psychological assistance.
Keywords: Sub-Saharan, Cameroon, minerals, mining, primary production, child labour, labour rights violations, human trafficking
Source: https://rflgd.org/2024/01/21/cameroon-the-sad-reality-of-child-sexual-exploitation-in-artisanal-mining-areas/#:~:text=Sexual%20exploitation%20of%20children%20is,police%20officers%20and%20other%20adults
The Verité report on coffee in Africa examines the challenges and issues within the coffee supply chain, focusing on labour rights and social responsibility. It highlights widespread issues such as child labour, forced labour, and poor working conditions among coffee workers across several African countries. These problems are exacerbated by factors like poverty, lack of education, and inadequate labour protections. The report identifies key areas for improvement, including enhancing transparency and accountability throughout the supply chain, strengthening labor laws and enforcement mechanisms, and promoting responsible sourcing practices among coffee buyers and exporters.
Verité calls for concerted efforts to address systemic issues in the coffee sector, ensuring that economic growth benefits all stakeholders fairly and sustainably.
Keywords: Sub-Saharan Africa, Cameroon, coffee, primary production, forced labour, labour rights violations, child labour
Source: https://verite.org/africa/explore-by-commodity/coffee/