The land leased by Socfin affects between 27 and 30 villages, encompassing about 120 land-owning families. Upon signing the lease in March 2011, Socfin committed to full compensation for the loss of existing plantations and farms in their areas of operation, alongside an annual payment of lease rents to landowners. The company’s General Manager, Gerben Haringsma, also assured the community that Socfin would construct a hospital, a network of roads, schools, and housing facilities, with a total investment of $19 million. Additionally, Socfin pledged $75,000 per year for social development projects and estimated the creation of 10,000 job opportunities, prioritizing locals from the chiefdom. However, these promises have not prevented rising resistance and opposition to the project within the local communities.
In October 2011, local leadership from the leased area presented a comprehensive list of grievances regarding the deal to local authorities. Research by the Oakland Institute and Green Scenery has identified several serious concerns surrounding the project:
While some meetings with local communities occurred prior to the deal, they did not include all stakeholders, leaving out key figures such as councillors, parliamentarians, and many land users, particularly women. The investment was initially portrayed as a lease of a former government plantation, leading to misunderstandings. A chiefdom meeting for signing the contract took place on March 5, 2011, but only four representatives from the nine sections of Malen signed the document. The contract was only partially translated into Mende, the local language, and was not read to the locals until two months after it was signed. This raised questions about the legality of the contract. Furthermore, the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report was made public two months post-signature.
One landowner expressed, “We, the landowners, were not consulted about the arrangements and did not know the agreement. We unanimously disagreed as landowners. With one voice, we said no! We expressed our unwillingness to give up our lands. However, the chief told us he is the sole custodian of the lands, and whatever he says is final.”
Copies of the land lease agreement and Memorandum of Understanding were not made available to landowners and local chiefs. They were pressured to sign or thumbprint documents without fully understanding the details of the agreements. Many villagers were unaware of which villages would be affected, including Kortumahun, where the entire land has been leased to the company.
Locals reported that the Paramount Chief, B.V.S. Kebbie, exerted pressure on communities and their representatives to sign documents. He repeatedly warned them that they would lose their land without compensation if they refused. Armed police presence at public meetings in Sahn Malen further intimidated local landowners, who ultimately felt compelled to sign the documents.
The conflict surrounding Socfin has escalated to violence. Protests were met with heavy-handed responses from local police, including the use of live ammunition, leading to numerous arrests. Members of the Malen Affected Land Owners Association (MALOA) reported being denied the right to assemble peacefully and present their grievances to local authorities.
In October 2013, six executive members of MALOA were arrested and charged with serious offenses, including conspiracy and incitement, for allegedly damaging palm oil plants owned by Socfin. Despite a lack of clear evidence, all six were found guilty on February 4, 2016. MALOA spokesperson Mr. Shiaka Sama was sentenced to pay a fine of 60 million Leones (approximately 13,400 euros) or face six months in prison, while the other five members faced fines of 30 million Leones (approximately 6,700 euros) each or five months in prison.
Thanks to solidarity funds raised by local communities, civil society organizations, and international support, the six MALOA members managed to pay their fines and were released between February and May 2016.
As the situation unfolds, it is crucial to gather further information and clarify the roles of various stakeholders, including the Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Board (SLPMB), which has been confused with Socfin in community discussions. A comprehensive understanding of the events and the historical context will be necessary to address the grievances effectively and ensure accountability from all parties involved.
Compile a list of questions to email to Socfin’s local contact to seek clarification on the issues raised by the community.