Sierra Leone's Farmers Continue to Fight Multinational Land Grabs

Sep 28, 2016 | Silas Gbandia
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A former member of Sierra Leone’s parliament has spoken of his determination to put an end to what he describes as the “underhand deals” taking place between the authorities and international palm oil producers in his country.

Despite being fined and threatened with prison for his part in cutting down 40 oil palm trees in an October 2013 act of civil disobedience, Shiaka Sama says the protests will continue until local landholders receive justice. 

In a country devastated by years of civil war and the Ebola virus, the Sierra Leonean government is eager to attract foreign capital to help the country rebuild. But farmers contend that some of that investment is taking place in the form of land grabbing.