Farmers decry exploitation of family farm lands

Land owners of oil palm and rubber trees in Socfin plantations, which Bolloré is the main shareholder presented October 24 to the french group their claims against what they denounce as a grab for land.

The alliance of Socfin peasants represents thousands of farmers in Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia, fighting against the practices of the Luxembourg company.

The alliance allayed a series of complaints: "The lands, used for family farming have been transferred under pressure from Socfin. A large number of people found themselves without resources, in poverty, without getting the promised jobs and with compensation extremely weak", denounced their spokesman Shiaka Musa Sama, who came from Sierra Leone for this meeting.

The activists also denounced the fact that promises remained unfulfilled.

Waiting to see these implemented commitments, the alliance calls for independent expertise on land disputes, the abandonment of the judicial charges against its members and better financial compensation for farmers.