Over 10 days, 20th-30th April 1995, without warning, the Malian government bulldozed the neighbourhood of Senou for expansion of the Bamako Airport zone. Approximately 3,707 families, about 30,000 people, were forcibly evicted [6]. A plot of land was assigned to evictees to construct a new neighbourhood. The ‘airport zone’ covers more than 7,194 hectares. It was classified as a plot of land for airport company use in 1999 [13]. In 2007-2008 a US Government's Millennium Challenge Account project occupied some of the land [2]. Farmers were displaced and trees felled for a fertilizer factory for the Toguna industrial group, apparently without prior environmental and social impact assessment, including the development of an Environmental and Social Management Plan as well as a Resettlement Action Plan for affected populations in accordance with the requirements of Malian regulations and environmental procedures [2]. There is also a gold refinery, Kankou Moussa, within the airport zone boundary [11]. In July 2009, residents were enjoined to leave the land by January 2010. The village leaders took that request as a war declaration, and prepared to resist [1][11]. Residents contested government claims that their occupation of the airport zone is illicit; they have lived on the land for many generations. Land grabbing and speculation are rife. Several villages are impacted. Between 1995 and 2014 about 4,712 families were the victims of evictions [6]. A drive to clear remaining communities from the entire airport zone area, impacting on about 20,000 families in 11 neighbourhoods, began in 2021, after a number of earlier attempts in 2016-17 [3], made to the advantage of politicians formerly sentenced to for land speculation [4] [5], and which triggered street protests by the people that would be obliged to leave their lands [6]. A major demolition using bulldozers began early in the morning of 14th January 2021, affecting an area of 1,600 hectares [12-15]. Evicted people were left destitute without shelter, but the press and the Real Estate Promoters’ Association supported the demolition as they claimed people were occupying the land illegally [17] [20]. More than 800 people claimed they had permits to occupy the land [16] [18], and claimed the land back [21]. Then a second phase of demolitions occurred affecting an area of 5,534 hectares [22]. One of the areas affected, Gouana, was inhabited by many elderly people [23]. An organization of inhabitants has been established - Plateforme des habitants de la zone dite aéroportuaire (PHZA) [24]. There are active groups in several of the affected villages, sometimes holding different views over land management [9]. L’Union des Associations et Coordinations d’associations pour le Dévelopement et la Défense des Droits des Démunis (UACDDDD) supports the struggle [7] [8] [10] [21]. Women, some of them elderly, play a prominent role in resistance against eviction from the ‘so-called airport zone’ and have protested demanding that the airport relocate [19]. Demonstrations and meetings have been attended by hundreds of people. UACDDDD reported plans for the airport zone include a financial center, hotels and theme parks. The case escalated into a political dilemma for Prime Minister C.K. Maïga is torn between the reasons of the communities residing near the area allocated for the airport and the construction companies [24] [25]. An independent national commission of inquiry to investigate demolitions in the airport area was created in November 2021 [26]. In January, following the inability of Mali’s transition government to enact presidential elections by due terms, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) decide to apply sanctions to Mali: in this predicament, despite ongoing demolitions, the PHZA decided to declare a truce with the government [27]. (See less) |
This is a conflict on land appropriation by the Government of Mali, with the aim to build an airport zone in the outskirts of capital city Bamako. Local communities protested their displacement and the demolition of their houses.
Over 10 days, 20th-30th April 1995, without warning, the Malian government bulldozed the neighbourhood of Senou for expansion of the Bamako Airport zone. Approximately 3,707 families, about 30,000 people, were forcibly evicted [6]. A plot of land was assigned to evictees to construct a new neighbourhood. The ‘airport zone’ covers more than 7,194 hectares. It was classified as a plot of land for airport company use in 1999 [13]. |
| Name of conflict: | International Airport of Modibo Keita, Mali |
| Country: | Mali |
| Location of conflict: | Bamako |
| Accuracy of location | HIGH (Local level) |
| Type of conflict. 1st level: | Infrastructure and Built Environment |
| Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Ports and airport projects Land acquisition conflicts |
| Specific commodities: | Land |
| Project details | 7149 hectares were requisitioned by the state for infrastructure development of the airport zone [11]. The phase of demolitions that started in January 2021 concerned 1660 hectares and cost over FCFA 320 millions [15]. The second phase, due to started in March 2021, concerned 5534 hectares, but no further data are available regarding its implementation. |
| Project area: | 7,194 |
| Level of Investment for the conflictive project | 540,000 (first phase of demolitions only) |
| Type of population | Urban |
| Affected Population: | 30,000 |
| Start of the conflict: | 20/04/1995 |
| Company names or state enterprises: | Aéroports du Mali from Mali Toguna Agro Industries from Mali - Project developer Africa Construction Corporation (ACC) from Mali |
| Relevant government actors: | Ministry of Equipment and Transport; Ministry of State Property; National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC); District of Bamako; National Transition Council (CNT). |
| International and Finance Institutions | Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) from United States of America - Funder |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | Coordination Nationale des Organisations Paysannes (CNOP) - https://www.sosfaim.be/partner/cnop/; Plateforme des habitants de la zone dite aéroportuaire (PHZA); Rural Women Center for Education and Development (RuWCED) - https://ruwced.org/; L’Union des Associations et Coordinations d’Associations pour le Dévelopement et la Défense des Droits des Démunis - UACDDDD – (Union of Local Struggles against Land Grabbing) - http://www.uacdddd.org/; Malian Convergence Against Land Grabbing (Convergence malienne contre l'accaparement des terres) (CMAT); Convergence Globale des Luttes pour la Terre et l’Eau - Ouest Africaine - https://www.africaconvergence.net/; Niamakoro-Diallobougou Displaced Persons Association |
| Intensity | MEDIUM (street protests, visible mobilization) |
| Reaction stage | In REACTION to the implementation (during construction or operation) |
| Groups mobilizing: | Local ejos Neighbours/citizens/communities Social movements Women |
| Forms of mobilization: | Development of a network/collective action Street protest/marches |
| Environmental Impacts | Visible: Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Noise pollution, Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover Potential: Air pollution |
| Health Impacts | Visible: Mental problems including stress, depression and suicide Potential: Accidents, Exposure to unknown or uncertain complex risks (radiation, etc…) |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Visible: Displacement, Violations of human rights, Land dispossession Potential: Loss of landscape/sense of place |
| Project Status | In operation |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Migration/displacement Strengthening of participation New Environmental Impact Assessment/Study |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | No |
| Briefly explain: | The local communities have been displaced and, although a movement formed to oppose displacements, it has not been successful until publication date. It is unlikely that the institution of a national inquiry commission will alter this outcome, as infrastructure has been built and is in operation. |
| References to published books, academic articles, movies or published documentaries |
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| Related media links to videos, campaigns, social network |
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| Contributor: | Rose Bridger - Co-founder and Coordinator, Global Anti-Aerotropolis Movement (GAAM); Roberto Cantoni, ICTA-UAB, [email protected] |
| Last update | 13/04/2023 |
| Conflict ID: | 6331 |