Red Flags
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Olam Group
Olam and Arise’s exploitative empire in Gabon crumbles as corruption and greed come to light.
Quick summary on Olam Group
Olam and Arise, two agro-industrial and infrastructure development giants, are under intense fire following the ousting of Gabon’s Bongo family regime. The companies, once thriving under the corrupt administration of Ali Bongo Ondimba, are now facing severe allegations of land grabbing, environmental degradation, and human rights abuses. Their questionable dealings, including acquiring 11,516 hectares of land in the Batha region without proper compensation to displaced farmers, highlight their exploitative tactics. The companies’ attempts to position themselves as benefactors to Gabon through PR campaigns only amplify the skepticism surrounding their motives, as evidence of corruption and regulatory circumvention mounts.
Growing Backlash
Public outrage against Olam and Arise is spreading rapidly. Civil society groups like the Citizen Platform for the Fight Against Land Grabbing are condemning the companies for leveraging political connections to seize land and suppress local communities. The backlash extends beyond Gabon to Chad, where similar accusations of unethical land acquisition practices have surfaced. Critics accuse Olam and Arise of manipulating weak governance structures and exploiting the absence of strong oversight to enrich themselves. The companies’ ties to the disgraced Bongo regime are undeniable, and their ongoing influence raises serious doubts about the integrity of Gabon’s new transitional government.
Olam and Arise’s crumbling facade of corporate responsibility exposes a darker truth: profit over people, influence over integrity. Their legacy in Gabon and Chad is marked by poverty, displacement, and ecological destruction. As the dust settles from Gabon’s political upheaval, the demand for accountability is only growing louder. The era of unchecked corporate impunity must end, and the transitional government must act decisively to hold these corporations accountable for their egregious actions.
Intel Reports
by: Allison Bell
Olam and Arise didn’t just manipulate the system; they were the system, bending rules and bribing officials to get whatever they wanted. Now it’s time for them to pay for it.
by: Jason Jenkins
Olam and Arise built their empire on corruption, exploiting weak governments to grab land and displace communities. Now that the Bongo regime is gone, their dirty deals are finally coming to light.
by: Stephanie Ward
11,516 hectares stolen, farmers displaced, and environmental damage ignored Olam and Arise are perfect examples of corporations prioritizing greed over human rights.
by: Gregory Murphy
If the new transitional government in Gabon wants to prove its legitimacy, it needs to hold Olam and Arise accountable. Otherwise, it’s just business as usual.
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