Widespread cocoa-driven clearance of forests in the Ivory Coast has led to farmers in the country moving across the border into neighbouring Liberia to create new cocoa plantations. Long one of the world’s leading cocoa producers, Ivory Coast faces challenges such as ageing tree stocks and climate change that has led to declining production in the country. While farmers are leasing the land for these new plantations from Liberian landowners, the cocoa is being illegally trafficked back into the Ivory Coast and mixed in with Ivorian cocoa. This makes it exceedingly difficult to identify and trace source of cocoa being exported from the Ivory Coast, which could then violate environmental protection laws such as the European Union’s regulation on deforestation free products.
Keywords: Sub-Saharan Africa, Liberia, cocoa, primary production, smuggling, deforestation
Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/cocoa-farming-liberia-risks-undermining-eu-deforestation-law-2024-04-22/
The article titled “More Evidence Emerges FDA Permitted Illegal Timber Export” published by ‘The DayLight’ reveals that the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) of Liberia permitted the West Water Group to export 797 logs in March 2024, over half of which were illegally harvested. The FDA’s log-tracking computer, LiberTrace, had red-flagged 413 logs in West Water’s consignment due to multiple issues, but the FDA ignored these warnings and approved the shipment. The FDA dismissed The DayLight’s initial investigation of the illegal export as an “intentional misinterpretation” of the facts. However, The DayLight traced some of the illegal logs back to the stumps of the trees from which they were harvested, supporting LiberTrace’s findings. A relook at the LiberTrace analysis found several discrepancies, indicating a cover-up. Last year, West Water did not have a valid harvesting certificate, according to FDA’s records. The illegal approval reduced government taxes on the logs and encouraged unsustainable logging and impunity.
Keywords: Sub-Saharan Africa, Liberia, timber, trade and transport, illegal logging
Source: https://thedaylight.org/2024/05/29/more-evidence-emerges-fda-permitted-illegal-timber-export/
Chinese national Gao Feng has been indicted by Liberian authorities for leading a large-scale illegal mining operation, depriving the Liberian government of over US$29 million in revenue. The indictment accuses Gao Feng and several associates of economic sabotage, tax evasion, and criminal conspiracy.
In response to complaints, the Ministry of Mines and Energy launched investigations, resulting in raids on Gao Feng’s mining sites. While seven associates were apprehended, Gao Feng and many others managed to escape. A writ of arrest has been issued alongside a travel ban to prevent them from fleeing the country.
However, the case faces challenges due to alleged corruption and interference from some government officials. Illegal mining has had a devastating impact on Liberia’s environment and economy, with unregulated mining practices leading to deforestation, soil erosion, and water pollution.
Keywords: Sub-Saharan Africa, Liberia, minerals, illegal mining, tax evasion, corruption and bribery, environmental crime
Source: https://www.liberianobserver.com/news/cartel-leader-gao-feng-indicted-for-illicit-mining-tax-evasion/article_6cf617a6-4288-11ef-8b4b-3b9fa771583e.html
Approximately 360,000 children, or 33% of those aged between 5 and 15, work in Liberia, primarily in agriculture. A significant number are engaged in the production of rubber on smallholder farms and large-scale plantations, often in dangerous conditions and at the expense of their education. According to the United States Department of Labour, major contributing factors to child labour in Liberia’s rubber sector include household poverty, the existence of worker quota production systems, the high cost of adult labour, a lack of awareness, limited access to education, and limited inspection and enforcement of labour standards.
The “Actions to Reduce Child Labor (ARCH)” project was implemented in Liberia from December 2012 to April 2017. The project targeted 10,100 children engaged in or at risk of entering exploitative child labour in Liberia, with a focus on the rubber sector. In addition, the project targeted 3,700 vulnerable households for sustainable livelihoods promotion. The project operated in the counties of Montserrado, Margibi, and Nimba. By the end of the project in March 2017, it had provided education services to 10,126 children and livelihood services to 3,700 households.
Keywords: Sub-Saharan Africa, Liberia, rubber, primary production, labour rights violations, child labour