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Deal #1999 Version #56547

Congo, Dem. Rep.
Created at
2013-02-15
Last update
2015-08-12
Last full update
2024-03-04

Consultation of local community

Community consultation
Not consulted
Comment on consultation of local community
Community leaders say the land was taken from them illegally and that they never gave their consent for Feronia to operate there and did not agree to the negotiated terms. Community members wish to start the negotiation phase with the company. On March 8, 2015, over 60 customary chiefs and other community leaders gathered in the town of Mozité to call for the resolution of their longstanding grievances against Feronia.

How did the community react?

Community reaction
Rejection
Comment on community reaction
The local community state that the land was illegally taken from them and reject the project. The communities claim that the title deeds for the land are falsified to represent Feronia as the legal owners. One report states that the community suffer from intimidation from the police if they protest against the project.

Displacement of people

Number of people actually displaced
45 000
Comment on displacement of people
The company prevents local people from raising livestock or farming within the company's concession, even on lands that the company has abandoned. Community members caught by company guards carrying just a few nuts fallen from the oil palms are fined or, in many cases, whipped, hand cuffed and taken to the nearest prison. One report states that the number of displaced villagers are 45000.

Promised or received compensation

Promised compensation (e.g. for damages or resettlements)
No compensation has been paid to date (2015). Communities are demanding that compensation occurs.

Promised benefits for local communities

Promised benefits for local communities
Health, Education, Productive infrastructure (e.g. irrigation, tractors, machinery...), Roads
Comment on promised benefits for local communities
Feronia announced at the end of 2014 that it wanted to "engage with local communities in the development of new facilities meet their daily needs". To date the communities have not seen any of the stated benefits.