Cintia A. , Lebledparle.com
In a letter addressed to Mr Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Affairs at the European Commission, Marina Mesure, Member of the European Parliament, raised concerns about the repression and violation of workers’ rights on Cameroon’s sugarcane plantation. She specifically referred in particular to incidents involving the Société Sucrière du Cameroun (SOSUCAM) citing reports of violence against peaceful demonstrators, resulting in injuries and displacement.
“I would like to bring your attention to the unprecedented repression of demonstrators in the Cameroon’s sugar sector, in the locality of Nkoteng, following tragic events that took place on 4th February 2025. This was part of a social conflict between employees demanding their unpaid wages from the company’s management, in clear violation of fundamental workers’ rights, and in particular the freedom of association recognised by several international convention”, stated Marina Mesure.
In this letter, the MEP urges the Commissioner to take action to ensure that the rights of these workers are respected and asks for the European Commission’s support in tackling these problems in collaboration with the Cameroonian authorities.
Read the letter below :
M. Maroš Šefčovič
Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security
European Commission
Rue de la Loi, 200
1049 Brussels
Brussels, February 5, 2025
Subject: Repression and violation of workers right in Cameroon’s Sugar sector
Dear Commissioner,
I would like to bring your attention to the alarming repression of protesters of sugar sector workers in Nkoteng, Cameroon, following the tragic event of February 4th 2025. In the context of a social conflict between employees demanding their arrears to the management of the sugar company SOSUCAM, a company 74% owned by the French group Somdiaa, the local authorities responded to the peaceful demonstrations with force. According to several credible media sources, the crackdown resulted in deaths among the demonstrators.
Beyond the bloody repression of protesters, an investigative report of May 1st 2023 by the Cameroonian Union of Seasonal Workers of the Sugarcane Sector, reports structural union repression by the company’s management, which is a clear violation of the fundamental rights of workers, and in particular freedom of association recognized by several international convention.
The combined repression exerted both by the company’s management and the Cameroonian authorities makes the situation particularly worrying for employees in the sector.
Under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union to Cameroon, and in line with the fundamental values of the Union recognized under Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union, which include respect for human rights, the Commission must ensure that human rights considerations are fully integrated into its trade relations with Cameroon. Additionally, given that SOSUCAM belongs to a food group whose headquarters is an EU Member State, this case warrants particular attention under Directive 2024/1760 on corporate due diligence obligations.
In light of the above concerns, could you specify what actions the Commission intends to take to ensure respect for the rights of workers in the country’s sugar sector? Furthermore, do you intend to alert the French authorities regarding the probable responsibility of the Somdiaa company in the repeated violations of the rights of SOSUCAM’s employees in accordance with Directive 2024/1760?
Counting on your collaboration, please accept, Mr. Commissioner, the expression of my sincere greetings.
Marina Mesure
