A US company, African Agriculture, had promised to turn over 20,000 hectares of land in Senegal into an agricultural project, creating thousands of jobs. However, the plan has failed, leaving behind unpaid workers and a barren field. The company was valued at $450 million before going public last year but shares are now worth almost nothing.
The failure of African Agriculture’s deal is not isolated, with experts warning that similar projects often fail to deliver on their promises. The company’s former CEO, Alan Kessler, has already moved on to a new project in Cameroon and Congo, despite previous concerns about the viability of his plan.
In Senegal, herders and farmers are furious over the failed deal, which they claim undermined community trust. The country’s government has been criticized for not intervening sooner to protect local communities’ interests.
The story highlights the challenges faced by African Agriculture’s deal, including the lack of transparency in its valuation and the failure to deliver on its promises. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of philanthropic support for global health and development coverage in Africa.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-africa-senegal-land-food-security-508570151e46f4777c8a366d31b6cff1