Collective statement: Development banks make shameless exit from a colonial land grab in the Congo

More than 30 environmental organizations are calling on the development banks from The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and England and related governments to provide reparations and redress for the victims of the violence and other abuses caused by the 'Plantation et Huileries du Congo' (PHC) plantation company. And to support local people with resources and information in the grievance procedure that had been launched against the development banks in 2018.

FMO and the development banks from England, Germany and Belgium are withdrawing the remainders of their approximately USD 150 million investment, which they used to keep a controversial plantation company in the Democratic Republic of Congo going in past years. The land grab for this plantation dates back to colonial times. Local communities and workers have continuously expressed their concerns about the abuses on the plantations. Violence was also regularly used by the plantation guards against the local population, often in conjunction with the police and army. While the company was restructured and part of the investment of the development banks was already written off, the local communities still did not get their land back.