Climate of fear

The report details a 'climate of fear' in Uganda and Tanzania, where TotalEnergies and state actors are accused of using intimidation, inadequate compensation, and criminalisation to silence opposition to the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). It documents the arrest of at least 47 defenders in Uganda and the forced exile of activists in Tanzania, arguing that such repression undermines the global energy transition.

• The East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and Tilenga oil field are estimated to emit 379 million tonnes of CO2 over a 25-year lifespan, a figure exceeding the total national emissions of the UK in 2022.
• Community members in Uganda and Tanzania report being pressured into accepting inadequate land compensation through intimidation, including the presence of police, army, and private security forces during the process.
• In Uganda, the state has conducted a systematic campaign of criminalisation against opponents of the oil project, with at least 47 defenders detained or arrested since September 2020.
• There is evidence suggesting TotalEnergies and Ugandan authorities may share information about activists, with some defenders reporting reprisals immediately after taking legal action against the company in France.
• In Tanzania, an effective ban on 'anti-government' activism has suppressed civil society mobilisation, leading some environmental defenders to flee the country after raising concerns about EACOP.
• The report identifies a 'chilling effect' where activists have toned down their advocacy, gone into hiding, or avoided mentioning fossil fuels entirely to avoid state harassment.

APA

Global Witness (2023). Climate of fear. https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/land-and-environmental-defenders/eacop/

Chicago

Global Witness. Climate of fear. 2023. https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/land-and-environmental-defenders/eacop/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Global Witness |title=Climate of fear |date=6 December 2023 |url=https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/land-and-environmental-defenders/eacop/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{globalwitness2023climate, author = {{Global Witness}}, title = {{Climate of fear}}, institution = {Global Witness}, year = {2023}, month = dec, url = {https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/land-and-environmental-defenders/eacop/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }