A day before the Oman East African Trade and Investment Expo opened in Muscat on April 16, more than 70 civil society organisations (CSOs) from Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, Tanzania, issued an open letter urging the Oman government to urge them to urge them.
The letter comes in reports that the Uganda National Petroleum Company (UNOC) is actively discussing with the Omani government to secure significant investments in the EACOP project, which has struggled to bridge the major funding gap. The 1,443-kilometer pipeline spanning Uganda to Tanzania has been a bolt of international criticism due to its ongoing human rights abuses, environmental damage, water, food security, threats to the local economy, and its role in the deterioration of the global crisis.
In his appeal to His, Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq Al highlights the opportunity for CSOS to take a principled position in line with the Vision 2040 strategy. They pointed to the upcoming Oman and East Africa trade and investment expo as a platform to promote responsible future partnerships, saying it “provides valuable opportunities for trade in key industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, clean energy, construction, technology and consumers.”
The letter urges the Omani government to “encourage the Ugandan government and businesses and refrain from engaging with the oil sector on these ethical and valuable opportunities.” CSOS warns that supporting the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) not only undermine global climate goals, but also contradicts basic Islamic finance principles that support justice, social welfare, life, wealth and the protection of environment.
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“It would be a betrayal of trust and strong historical ties between the Omani government and the people of Ugandan and the region.
The signatories are calling on the Omani government to use its impact and investment capabilities to advocate for the energy transition in Africa, respect human rights, protect ecosystems, and enable the lasting prosperity of communities at the forefront of the climate crisis.
Specifically, the CSO urges the Omani government to: Publicly commits to refrain from EACOP and related oil projects, either financially or diplomatically. Redirect investments in sustainable sectors such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and environmentally friendly infrastructure. and engages with East African countries in mutually beneficial trade and investment opportunities that maintain human rights, consistent with global climate targets.
They emphasize that by prioritizing ethical and sustainable investment, Oman can strengthen its global reputation and promote a long-term climate-conscious economic partnership with East Africa. A formal response from the Omani government will be required by April 20, 2025.
