Tens of thousands of people in the Democratic Republic of Congo could be forcibly displaced from their homes as a result of a $10 billion infrastructure project backed by the EU and US, according to a report by campaign group Global Witness.
The Lobito Corridor project aims to upgrade colonial-era railways, build new ports, and support solar power installations in the DRC. However, the upgrades will require the demolition of over 1,200 buildings, including homes and businesses, in the Kolwezi neighborhood of Bel Air, where many residents have built their lives on land acquired from vendors who may not own it.
The project's backers claim that there are "no people" living within a 25-meter buffer zone around the railway line, but Congolese officials say that this buffer zone is much larger, and that residents have been left to live there for decades without any notice or compensation.
Local leaders and activists argue that the displacement of thousands of people is not just a matter of "illegals" being removed from their homes, but also a case of communities being forced out of their land to make way for foreign investors. They claim that residents have already been evicted without payment in other parts of the country.
The EU and US are investing heavily in the project, with western financing pledges including a $553 million loan from the US development finance corporation and €50 million (£44 million) from the EU to upgrade Zambian rail infrastructure. However, campaigners warn that these investments come at a human cost, and that the true beneficiaries of the project will be Western companies seeking to secure supplies of critical minerals used in green energy technologies.
The scale of the displacement is alarming, with up to 6,500 people potentially losing their homes and livelihoods as a result of the project. Campaigners are calling on EU and US officials to re-examine their investments and ensure that they prioritize the human rights and well-being of local communities.
The Lobito Corridor project aims to upgrade colonial-era railways, build new ports, and support solar power installations in the DRC. However, the upgrades will require the demolition of over 1,200 buildings, including homes and businesses, in the Kolwezi neighborhood of Bel Air, where many residents have built their lives on land acquired from vendors who may not own it.
The project's backers claim that there are "no people" living within a 25-meter buffer zone around the railway line, but Congolese officials say that this buffer zone is much larger, and that residents have been left to live there for decades without any notice or compensation.
Local leaders and activists argue that the displacement of thousands of people is not just a matter of "illegals" being removed from their homes, but also a case of communities being forced out of their land to make way for foreign investors. They claim that residents have already been evicted without payment in other parts of the country.
The EU and US are investing heavily in the project, with western financing pledges including a $553 million loan from the US development finance corporation and €50 million (£44 million) from the EU to upgrade Zambian rail infrastructure. However, campaigners warn that these investments come at a human cost, and that the true beneficiaries of the project will be Western companies seeking to secure supplies of critical minerals used in green energy technologies.
The scale of the displacement is alarming, with up to 6,500 people potentially losing their homes and livelihoods as a result of the project. Campaigners are calling on EU and US officials to re-examine their investments and ensure that they prioritize the human rights and well-being of local communities.
They r gonna kick out like 60k ppl from thir homes just cuz some EU/US folks wanna upgrade railways & build new ports? Like, whats next? Demolishin entire villages in India to make way for Teslas? 
The thing is tho, its not just bout the $$$ they r makin off dis deal. Its bout the fact that these ppl have already been livin there 4 decades & dont even no if they own the land. Displacement is a major issue here & I feel 4 them 
I'm genuinely worried about what's happening in the DRC. The thought of tens of thousands of people being forced out of their homes because of some fancy infrastructure project is just heartbreaking. It's like, we're investing billions into 'progress' but forgetting that it's people's lives at stake 
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. The whole thing reeks of colonialism all over again 
. We need to be more mindful about our investments and make sure we're not putting people in harm's way 
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. They're just backing this project without even questioning the human cost. I mean, what's the real cost of 'progress' when it comes at the expense of people's lives? 
. And the EU and US are backing this project with billions of dollars, without considering the human cost 
. It's time for us to ask ourselves if we're doing enough to protect our people and our planet before we start lining the pockets of corporations 
, can you imagine being told to leave your home without any notice or compensation? It's not just about the homes either, it's about the communities that are being forced out of their land for foreign investors 
. We need to make sure our investments prioritize the well-being of local communities over profits 
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. The EU and US are putting a lot of money into this thing, but what's the real cost? 
. The fact that they're claiming there are no people living in a certain area is just not true 
. It's like they're ignoring the fact that people have been living there for decades without any notice or compensation.
. We can't just prioritize profits over people 
. And what really gets my goat is that these Western companies are gonna be raking in the cash while the Congolese people are left with nothing. It's all about profit over people, if you ask me 
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. We need to think twice before investing in these kinds of projects and make sure we're not trampling on human rights 
. We need to think about what's really important here – are we talking about economic growth or human lives? I'd say it's time for a rethink on these investments 
and who knows how many lives will be ruined? 
We gotta stand up for those communities and make sure they get what they deserve 
. It's like, these people have been living in Kolwezi without any notice or compensation? That's just not cool 
. And the EU and US are basically backing a project that's gonna kick them out of their homes... it's all about those Western companies getting rich off critical minerals 
They're talking about a $10 billion deal, but what's the real cost? 
And what's with all this secrecy surrounding the project? It's like they're trying to hide something... 
But one thing's for sure – the EU and US need to do a lot more than just promise to prioritize human rights; they need to actually follow through on it... 
, and if Congolese officials say that's not true then shouldn't they be taken seriously?