Uganda: Protests Against East Africa Oil Pipeline Escalate as COP29 Commences in Baku

As COP29 unfolds in Baku, Azerbaijan, a wave of protests has erupted against the construction of the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), a 1,143-kilometer project stretching from Uganda to Tanga, Tanzania. The protesters, gathered outside Uganda’s Parliament, voiced strong opposition to the pipeline, citing risks to critical ecosystems along the pipeline route. Tensions flared as police moved in to arrest several demonstrators, but the incident has amplified global awareness of the environmental stakes tied to EACOP’s development.

The activists have faced several legal setbacks in their attempt to halt construction. However, they remain resolute in challenging the pipeline’s potential for environmental disruption, including concerns over deforestation, threats to water sources, and impacts on wildlife habitats in Uganda and Tanzania. Their actions coincide with a broader global call for climate accountability and financial commitment to adaptation and mitigation solutions at COP29, where delegates from around the world are gathering to address pressing climate challenges.

The East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline, if completed, is set to be one of the longest heated oil pipelines in the world, designed to carry an estimated 216,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Environmentalists warn that this venture, which traverses sensitive landscapes and biodiversity hotspots, threatens to accelerate carbon emissions and worsen climate impacts, particularly for communities living along the pipeline’s path. Despite this, EACOP has gained support from major energy corporations and investment groups, who argue it will boost economic development in the region.

Over the next two weeks in Baku, climate financing for adaptation and mitigation will dominate discussions, with the backdrop of protests like those against EACOP underscoring the tension between fossil fuel expansion and climate responsibility. Activists are hopeful that the conference will acknowledge the urgent need for a shift toward renewable energy in developing nations, particularly in Africa, where the impacts of climate change are already severe.