Sudan farmers fear 'foreign land grabs'

When South Sudan became an independent state in July 2011, northern Sudan lost most of its oil fields to its new neighbouring country.

In an effort to revive the country's struggling economy, the Sudanese government based in Khartoum has been selling or leasing vast swaths of fertile land to foreign investors.

But in areas where agricultural land is the basic source of living for people, there is much anger over what farmers say is a government policy that promotes foreign land grabs, favouritism, and exploitation.

Al Jazeera's Mohamed Vall reports from al-Shamanlya, Sudan.

Category:

News & Politics

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• sudan
• africanews
• south
• oil
• economy
• land
• arable

[SouthSudanYouth]

I hope the investors dont screw over the farmers and hopefully the governmnet is just lending the land not actually selling it. Oh well, best of luck from South Sudan :)

[schlagerhansi]

Mamoun is absolutely right -- no further comment needed.

[martenfisher1]

History shows when governments give away rights to the rich the citizens go poor and towns turn to sex, drugs, and slum. These northern investors will give little money to workers.

[Icix1]

North Sudan fucked over the South, and now it's getting screwed over in return.

[dethiphoptv]

Kick the whites, Chinese, and wanna be white northerners out of sudan

[KEVLANEW80]

NATURAL RIGHTS SHOULD NOT BE DISPARAGED.

[dek5704]

@2Manolo3 yeah, unfortunately they are able to externalize their costs so that society bears the environmental burden while they enrich themselves. it wouldn't be possible if Sudan's elected representatives had the people's interest in mind, but it seems that power has corrupted, as it always does.

[2Manolo3]

@dek5704 truth is big aggro doesn't care. It only cares about low production cost and maximizing it's profit. It will take everything of the land that it can and when it can take no more it will go.

[dek5704]

Sad that no one seems to be worried about environmental concerns. I understand that development is their first priority, but they will save themselves I lot of future problems if they develop sustainable water policies. They could learn from our mistakes.

[peacerebelgirl]

the government is grabbing farmland all over the world, 'green revolutionizing' it with gmo's. they will soon control the world's food supply, kissinger's wet dream.