Deal #3433 Version #60963

These communities are pastoral herders and farmers, with deep roots in these lands. They raise goats, cattle, horses, sheep and donkeys. They grow sweet potato, rice, watermelon, tomatoes, onions and potatoes.

Initially the community was not consulted,they learnt about the installation of the project the day the machines began clearing their land. However, they were consulted during the social impact assessment conducted in 2013. In January 2014, a memorandum was signed between the communities and companies, which details their respective responsibilities. However the MOU does not ensure that the commitments made by the company are binding. Never free and informed consent as meetings were just an attempt by the company to convince the communities about the benefits of the project.

The local community have rejected the project since its inception. The community asked the government to allocate the land to themselves rather than the company. Heavy protests by locals causing fatal casualties forced the project to be relocated. Protests continue in newly assigned area.In addition to the deaths caused by the protests three children have drowned in irrigation canals dug by the company. Villagers have traveled to Europe, to the offices of Tampieri, in February 2014 to try to halt the project. The local communities got together and created the Collectif de Défense des Intérêts du Ndiael (Association for the Defence of the Interests of Ndiael) which comprises of 37 villages affected by the project with civil society organisations such as ENDA PRONAT, ACTION AID, and CNCR.

The land was originally located in the area of Fanaye, east of Ngnith, in the department of Podor. The communities there were not consulted, however, and they did not accept the project. They rose up in protest, demanding their lands back, again and again. One day in late October 2011 violence broke out, resulting in the death of two villagers and severe injuries for dozens more. The country was shocked, and the project halted.

9000 people in 40 villages (another source mentions as many as 55 villages) are affected, however none have been displaced. The company has established plantations 300-500m from the villages. The company has taken away grazing land, land for cultivation, water collection points and collection of timber. In some cases households are enclosed by the plantations. Populations living close to the project are constantly being forced with eviction.

The lease did not provide for the community to be compensated for their loss of access to land for grazing and collecting of other natural resources. However, the company has allocated a portion (size unknown) to the communities for grazing- this land is not sufficient. Indeed In a memoranda of understanding, Senhuile agrees to provide 0.3 hectares to the families of the local communities. 189 hectares has been distributed by Senhuile to some families. The company has made various donations and support for the populations, Senhuile began paying an exceptional budgetary support to the commune, 40 million CFA francs for 2014. In 2015, the local treasure will receive CHF 20 million as annual financial support decided by a common agreement.

From 2012 until 2017, the investors promised all sort of things − they boasted that they would build schools and health clinics, and send nearby villagers on the Hajj. But little came of all this except for speculation, grave financial distress. The company promised to build walls around the local cemetery. The company has given all the villagers affected a total of 50 000tonnes of fodder once. Senhuile it is also committed in the creation of two micro-projects: the creation of three community gardens by each hectare (land made available from the villages and not by the company) for women, and the construction of four classrooms.

Very few benefits have been delivered to the community to date.

The land was originally located in the area of Fanaye, east of Ngnith, in the department of Podor. The communities there were not consulted, however, and they did not accept the project. They rose up in protest, demanding their lands back, again and again. One day in late October 2011 violence broke out, resulting in the death of two villagers and severe injuries for dozens more. The country was shocked, and the project halted. It was relocated to the Ndiaël region.