Almost 1,500 members of MALOA (Malen of Affected Land Owners and Users Assosiation) in Sierra Leona released a petition to object the RSPO (The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) certification of SOCFIN subsidiary in that country.
They raised several points that evidence the numerous land conflicts, violence and grievances from affected communities. This certification is next in line of a number of highly controversial certifications of the SOCFIN group in Nigeria, Cameroon and Ivory Coast. RSPO is totally biased in favor of the industry and is not fit for purpose to guarantee sustainability and respect for human rights in palm oil supply chains.
Furthermore, MALOA members who signed the petition in March 2022 have been target of arbitrary harassment and criminalization.
Read the petition here.
Read further information on the case here and in French here:
Read a Press Release on the Intimidation of MALOA members here.