PETITION TO THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY PARLIAMENT CHALLENGING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EAST AFRICAN CRUDE OIL PIPELINE (EACOP) PROJECT.
We, the youth of East Africa, stand united in our deep concern over the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project. This heated pipeline, intended to transport crude oil from Hoima, Uganda, to the port of Tanga in Tanzania, represents a grave threat to our future, our environment, and our communities. While proponents argue that EACOP will bring economic benefits, the long-term costs, ecological destruction, climate catastrophe, and human rights violations far outweigh any short-term gains. We are not against development, but we demand�sustainable, equitable, and just
development�that does not mortgage our future for fossil fuel profits. We call upon the East African Community Parliament to take immediate action to halt this project and instead invest in renewable energy solutions that will secure a livable future for East Africans.
Background
The EACOP project, led by Total Energies, CNOOC, and the governments of Uganda
and Tanzania, is one of the largest fossil fuel projects in Africa. It threatens to:
Accelerate climate change:
The pipeline will transport up to�216,000 barrels of oil per day, contributing an
estimated�34 million tons of CO? emissions annually�(BankTrack, 2023).
This directly contradicts the Paris Agreement and East Africa�s own commitments to reduce carbon emissions.
Destroy critical ecosystems and biodiversity: The pipeline cuts through�protected areas, including the�Murchison Falls National Park (Uganda)�and�Wembere Steppe (Tanzania), threatening endangered species like
elephants, lions, and chimpanzees.
Oil spills could devastate�Lake Victoria, the largest freshwater lake in Africa,
affecting�40 million people�who depend on it for water and livelihoods.
Displace and harm local communities:
Over�100,000 people�have already faced�forced evictions, land grabs, and inadequate compensation�(Global Witness, 2022).Affected communities report�intimidation, harassment, and lack of meaningful consultation, a violation of their rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples� Rights.
Lock East Africa into fossil fuel dependence:
The world is transitioning to renewable energy, yet EACOP will�trap Uganda and
Tanzania in a dying industry, diverting funds from solar, wind, and other clean energy
solutions.
The EACOP project violates the East African Community�s own commitments,
including:
1. The EAC Climate Change Policy (2011), which mandates member states to
�promote low-carbon development pathways� (Section 4.2.1), �protect ecosystems
and biodiversity from climate-related risks"�(Section 4.3.3), and �mainstream climate
change into all sectors of regional cooperation"�(Section 5.1). Yet EACOP will emit
34 million tons of CO? annually, fuel deforestation, and endanger critical
ecosystems, directly undermining these commitments.
2. The EAC Protocol on Environment and Natural Resources (2006), which
requires partner states to �prevent pollution and ecological degradation��(Article 5)
and �ensure public participation in environmental decision-making� (Article 7).
Our demands
We call upon the EAC Parliament to�uphold its legal and moral obligations. We
respectfully petition that you take the following actions:
I. Immediately halt the EACOP project.
Conduct an�independent, transparent review�of the project�s environmental, social,
and economic impacts, involving affected communities and climate experts.
Suspend all construction activities until this assessment is completed and made public.
II. Invest in renewable energy instead of fossil fuels.
Redirect funds from EACOP towards�solar, wind, and geothermal energy projects�that
will create�sustainable jobs�and provide�clean, affordable electricity�for East Africans,
as outlined in�EAC Vision 2050.
Develop a�Green New Deal for East Africa, prioritizing climate resilience and youth
employment in the green economy.
III. Protect human rights and ensure justice for affected communities.
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Enforce�fair compensation�for all displaced persons and hold TotalEnergies and
partner governments accountable for human rights violations.
Establish a�regional task force�to monitor and address grievances related to land
acquisition and community welfare.
IV. Strengthen environmental safeguards and climate policies.
Enact�binding regional laws�to prevent harmful extractive projects and suspend
permits until�full environmental restitution�and�community consent�are secured.
Align EAC policies with�Net-Zero commitments�and the�UN Sustainable
Development Goals.
V. Establishment of a tribunal of inquiry:
We demand that the EAC Parliament establish a tribunal of inquiry to probe cases of
human rights abuses, violations, and transgressions committed in the course of the
EACOP project and any other upcoming project. The tribunal should investigate all
allegations of human rights abuses, recommend legal sanctions for the perpetrators,
and recommend reparations for victims.
VI. Amplify youth voices in decision-making.
Ensure that young people have a direct say in energy and environmental policies.
The EAC was founded on�unity, sustainability, and shared prosperity, not fossil fuel
exploitation. We urge you to stand with the people, not polluters, and lead a just
energy transition.
We are the generation that will inherit the consequences of today�s decisions. We
refuse to accept a future of�climate disasters, polluted water, and stolen land�for the
profits of a few. The EACOP project is a�betrayal of East Africa�s youth, and we
demand better. Our future is not negotiable.