Sugarcane Union Strikes for Better Conditions Turn Violent in Cameroon
Plantation workers in Cameroon harvest over 100,000 tons every year. (Flickr)
One protester has died, and 11 are injured in the violent conclusion to worker strikes in Nkoteng, Cameroon.
Over 4000 union workers in Cameroon’s Sugarcane Corporation (SOSUCAM) went on strike on January 26 in response to a new payment system that delayed payments and prevented career advancement. The union turned the strike into a broader call for better pay and safer working conditions. After two weeks of protest, the strike escalated into a riot on February 4, when 400 special forces officers and ten armored vehicles arrived on scene, according to a statement provided to The Caravel by union organizer Adonis Febe. He explained, “The arrival of the police was not a surprise for the workers, who always see themselves tortured by the FMO [police] for all union demands. […] The very zealous FMOs wanted to take the workers by force into the fields to cut the cane. Faced with the death of their colleague Gaston Djora, the workers felt disoriented and chose to push back the FMOs with their bare hands to defend their dignity.” Over 150 hectares,worth 3 billion in CFA francs, out of SOSUCAM’s 25,000 hectares of sugarcane plantations burned in the resulting chaos.
According to Cameroon’s Constitution, workers can strike when other measures have already been taken. Various government officials have condemned police and SOSUCAM for violating workers’ constitutional rights. Opposition leader Maurice Kamto denounced the strike to Cameroon News Agency, saying, "Bosses who love their company and respect their staff […] do not call in the security forces carrying weapons against their employees." The strikes have even attracted foreign interest, and French parliamentarian Marina Mesure also criticized the “bloody crackdown” and advised the EU Parliament to investigate Somdiaa for international labor law violations. In a statement provided to The Caravel, Wade Rathke, a member of labor rights group Acorn International and an affiliate of the union, explained, “The role of the European Commission protesting the company's actions has been very helpful, but government and the media in Cameroon have not played constructive or independent roles.”
The Cameroonian subsidiary of the French agri-industrial giant Somdiaa, SOSUCAM, harvests, refines, and sells Cameroonian sugarcane. The official website brands Somdiaa as a sustainable development partner: “SOSUCAM is committed to local community development through [...] projects to improve living conditions for local people, education, vocational training and the protection of biodiversity.” SOSUCAM employs roughly 8000 employees in the greater Yaoundé region, including the village of Nkoteng, and it is the third largest employer in Cameroon. The strikes resulted from changes to payment made by the recently appointed CEO, Jean-Pierre Champeaux.
In response to the protests, Champeaux released a statement affirming the commitment to workplace safety, “Sosucam is committed to the deployment of an occupational health and safety (OHS) policy aimed at preventing workplace accidents and protecting workers.” After a meeting with staff representatives on February 7, SOSUCAM raised the salary from 56,000 CFA francs (US$89.89) to 57,000 CFA francs (US$90.98) a month as well as improving health insurance benefits. They also promised a return to the original payment system and information desks to ensure workers receive their pay on time. Febe later revealed that only associates of SOSUCAM—and not workers—were consulted. Rathke said, “There were some concessions made by the company, but they still continued to NOT recognize the union, which continues to be a sticking point. Police killed one or two (I have conflicting reports) strikers, which is horrific and unacceptable. It is a responsibility the company needs to accept. They need to listen and respond to the voice and demands of the workers and their union, rather than forcing confrontations with the police and provoking violence.”
Sugarcane harvesting is incredibly labor-intensive. Cuts from machetes, fainting from the heat, and even injuries from flying sugarcane are common. Transportation accidents are also frequent. Amidst these conditions, sugarcane workers lack protective equipment and struggle for fair wages and healthcare coverage. Workers at SOSUCAM are especially vulnerable. Mainly consisting of the Tupuri people, workers are often migrants who cannot escape generational poverty. They work five months during harvest and then run several small farming projects the rest of the year. Despite this, they make up 80 percent of SOSUCAM’s staff. The recent increase of 1,000 CFA francs (US$1.60) will still only be slightly above the minimum wage of 45,000 CFA francs (US$72.04) a month.
Due to the difficult conditions and pay, workers have bargained for better working conditions before. In 2023, the seasonal worker’s union released a report highlighting nearly 100 workplace accidents over a six-month period, 90 percent of which were never compensated. Notable incidents include Mballa Olomo, who died due to burns, Michel Bonga Tcherandi, who lost an eye from flying sugarcane, and Christine Maisali, who couldn’t provide for her family after a vehicle accident that injured 35 workers. She explained to environmental nonprofit and news outlet Mongabay, “Since the accident, my health has declined. I regularly have headaches and pain in my chest and neck, and I very often have memory loss issues. In April, May and June, I did not receive any of the compensation due to me. […] My care isn’t covered anymore.” Following these accidents, the workers’ union partnered with activist group #OnEstEnsemble in 2024. SOSUCAM suspended the union’s president, and police were quick to call in activists for trial, often without notice, which violates Cameroonian constitutional law. Febe reported, “He even [told] me that he will send me to hell if I continue to help Seasonals to organize themselves.” Allegedly, these trials were requested by Somdiaa.
In addition to workplace complaints, SOSUCAM and Somdiaa have come under fire for environmental pollution. The aerial pesticide sprayed onto plantations has eroded the soil and destroyed critical ecosystems. Sugarcane waste left in rivers has polluted drinking water sources. Local communities have discussed pollution in town halls, but SOSUCAM has not changed its operations.
In a statement provided to The Caravel, a native of Nkoteng, Nanfack Serge explained, “Strikes in Cameroon's agricultural sector is not uncommon, especially concerning the labor conditions and wages. However, the recent violent escalation and significant destruction of property make this incident particularly notable.” Workers returned to work on February 8.