SEATTLE (Oil Monster): The East African Court of Justice (EACJ) has rejected an appeal by four African NGOs challenging the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), marking the end of a major legal battle. The Nov. 26 ruling upholds a 2023 decision that dismissed the case on a technicality, after the NGOs missed a 60-day filing window following the 2017 project agreements. The NGOs argued they only became aware of the pipeline’s details in 2020.
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The 1,443-kilometer (897-mile) pipeline, led by TotalEnergies with state-owned partners from Uganda, Tanzania, and China, will run from Uganda’s oil fields to the Port of Tanga in Tanzania. Its route crosses more than 40 protected areas and key freshwater sources near Lakes Albert and Victoria. Environmentalists warn its carbon footprint of 34 million tons of carbon dioxide per year exceeds Uganda and Tanzania’s annual emissions combined.
Affected communities say the project has harmed farmland, water sources, and local livelihoods, with activists facing intimidation and police summons. “Land has been taken, livelihoods shattered, yet none of that will be heard in court,” said NGO lawyer Justin Semuyaba.
Despite the setback, communities plan to continue their opposition. “We are building strong resistance and are not alone,” said Balach Bakundane, a local representative, emphasizing ongoing efforts to challenge the pipeline’s impact.
