Starting by 2025, African countries have agreed to terms for oil drilling and pipeline projects. These countries include Uganda and Tanzania who are finalizing a 10 billion dollar deal with Chinese and French oil companies. They plan on the pipeline carrying about 60,000 barrels of oil to Tainzina alone. For Uganda, they are estimated to have around 6.5 billion barrels of oil. Because of this, civil society organizations have been outraged and are protesting this agreement. The oil drilling is taking place close to Lake Albert which is violating the rights of those communities near the lake. In fact, the French company taking part in the deal, Total Energies, is facing a lawsuit for failing to protect human rights. This project was supposed to start years sooner but due to the backlash from civil society groups, they had to delay.

 

This article further details how these big, powerful companies will always have their way over the people. Yes, Uganda and Tanzania are poor countries so this deal would help them financially but the rights and safety of the people is much more important. These oil drills and pipeline constructions take up a substantial amount of space. That space is inherently for the people that live near Lake Alberta so doing this will put those communities homeless. Hopefully if they do go through with this project, they’ll find a way to keep those communities and families safe and happy.