This very important report identifies and examines cases of large-scale land acquisitions in Mali. The report provides background on the institutional and political context of the country, the current macroeconomic situation, the state of food and agriculture, and the current investment climate. Additionally, it documents detailed information regarding four land investment deals currently being carried out in Mali – inluciding their devasting consequences such as food insecurity, loss of food sovereignty, the displacement of small farmers, conflict, environmental devastation, water loss, and the further impoverishment and political instability of African nations.

By Yves Niyiragira (06/09)

(AfricaFiles)—Uganda’s parliament reacted when it heard about some 840.000 ha of land being leased to Egypt. Sudan has offered huge chunks of land to Arab countries. A US hedge fond persuaded a former warlord in Southern Sudan to provide over 400.000 ha for agricultural development. The Director General of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), Jacques Diouf, called such land deals a type of ‘neo-colonialism.’

How is it possible that in the 21st century the world has the capacity to feed every single human being on the planet, yet the majority of people in Africa and the rest of the Global South, who are poor – whilst obesity soars in the West – go rampantly hungry? In addition, why has there been a recent ‘land grab’ in Africa by rich countries? The short answer to the first question lies in the unequal distribution and control of global wealth and its ownership, which lies in a few hands. The answer to the second question is tied to the first and is the focus of this article.

SEGOU, 2 December 2009 (IRIN) – In Mali the government has approved long-term leases for outside investors to develop more than 160,000 hectares of land. Government officials say the country could not develop its cultivable land otherwise, but local farmers say they fear being pushed out.

This report focuses on the role of the EU and its member states in land grabbing in Africa. Even though it is reported that the major current international investors are the Gulf States, China and South Korea, this reports sheds light on the EU’s involvement land acquisition in Africa and on the EU members States’ responsibility in implementing policies that have increased demand for land acquistion. Given the fact that six European countries are among the biggest investors in terms of outwards Foreign Direct Investment stock in agriculture (in descendent order Italy, Norway, Germany,
Denmark, the United Kingdom, and France), their role cannot be neglected and deserves closer Examination.