ADD YOUR VOICE, ADD YOUR NAME, STAND UP AGAINST FORCED EVICTIONS IN AFRICA.
Across Africa hundreds of thousands of people each year are left homeless after being forcibly evicted from their homes by the authorities. A forced eviction is the removal of people against their will from the homes or land they occupy without legal protections and other safeguards.
In most cases evictions are conducted without any due process, consultation, adequate notice or compensation. The effect of forced evictions can be catastrophic, particularly for people who are already living in poverty. Forced evictions result not only in people losing their homes (which they may have built themselves) and personal possessions, but also their livelihood and social networks. After forced evictions, people may no longer be able to access clean water, food, sanitation, work, health and education. Officials carrying out the evictions often use excessive force against residents, and sometimes firearms.
The phenomenon of forced evictions in Africa is a massive human rights scandal that must be stopped immediately. Instead of taking measures to improve the housing and living conditions of people, particularly those living in poverty, many governments are driving people further into poverty by forcibly evicting them from their homes and communities without any alternatives. As long as governments are not held accountable, people will continue to be vulnerable to this gross violation of their human rights, with catastrophic consequences for their lives. We call on African leaders to help bring an end to these human rights violations.
» Read more about forced evictions in Angola, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Nigeria and Zimbabwe on our blog
AngolaMore than 10,000 families in Angola's capital, Luanda, have been made homeless after being forcibly evicted from their homes since July 2001. Few families involved in any forcible evictions in Luanda have been compensated for their losses. Some were re-housed about 30 to 40 kilometers from the city in areas lacking jobs, schools, hospitals, basic services and sanitation. However, the vast majority have been left to fend for themselves. Many have been the victims of repeated forced evictions and hundreds of families remain without shelter, living in the ruins of their former homes.» Take Action Against Forced Eviction in Angola |
ChadDuring the past two years, tens of thousands in Chad's capital N'Djamena have been left homeless after being evicted by force and having had their homes demolished by the government. Many of the victims must live in the ruins of their former houses, or have fled into exile. Many Chadian exiles who are already living in refugee camps in other countries, some of whom are government critics and political opposition members, have since had their homes demolished, and have no homes to which they can return.» Take Action Against Forced Eviction in Chad |
Equatorial GuineaAbout 1,000 families have been forcibly evicted from their homes to make room for roads, up-market housing and hotels and shopping centers since 2003. Homes have been demolished in the capital, Malabo, and on the mainland, in the major city of Bata, as well as in other large towns. Many of the houses demolished were solid structures in well-established neighborhoods and the vast majority of the occupants had title to the land. Despite promises of relocation for some of the victims, to date no one has been re-housed or compensated.» Take Action Against Forced Eviction in Equatorial Guinea |
KenyaFor decades, the Kenyan government has carried out large-scale forced evictions of informal settlements, contravening international human rights standards. Mass forced evictions have usually involved government projects or private developers claiming ownership of land on which some of the settlements stand. Government bulldozers are used to evict residents and demolish their homes with little or no notice and no efforts are made to resettle or compensate residents. Families are made homeless and many are left without livelihoods when their small businesses are destroyed.» Take Action Against Forced Eviction in Kenya |
NigeriaMore than two million people have been forcibly evicted from their homes in different parts of Nigeria since 2000. Most were already marginalized and many had lived for years without access to clean water, sanitation, adequate health care or education. In 2006, Nigeria was named one of the three worst violators of housing rights by the Geneva-based Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions. Forced evictions are continuing throughout the country. Thousands of people have been removed from their homes in Abuja, the capital, Lagos and Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State.» Take Action Against Forced Eviction in Nigeria |
ZimbabweFrom May to July 2005, government security forces launched Operation Murambatsvina (Restore Order), a program of housing and informal business demolition that displaced approximately 700,000 people. The evictions and demolitions were carried out without adequate notice, court orders, due process, legal protection, redress or appropriate relocation measures; in violation of Zimbabwe's obligations under international human rights law. Four years on, the authorities have failed to provide an effective remedy to the victims and, as a result, many continue to be at risk of being forcibly evicted from both their homes and their informal businesses.» Take Action Against Forced Eviction in Zimbabwe |
