Thanks to you, 162,000 refugees remain on their land and are now citizens in Tanzania

Dear friend, I am writing today to ask you for a donation to help us continue preserving land rights and exposing corrupt land deals.

A few years ago, we uncovered one of the more convoluted land deals in Africa. Iowa’s AgriSol Energy was getting ready to break ground on a huge swath of fertile land ALREADY inhabited by more than 162,000 people in Tanzania.

The residents happened to be Burundian refugees, some of whom had lived in the area for four decades. But the Tanzanian government, in an effort to increase foreign investment, offered the land to AgriSol with a shady promise to remove the refugees.

The government in turn promised Burundians their long-awaited citizenship – on the condition that they break down their own homes and relocate.

This kind of coercion and corruption related to land deals goes on more than you’d imagine. It inspires us to keep up this work, cutting at the roots of the bad policies that enable it.

Ultimately, through our advocacy, research and partnership with media, including Dan Rather Reports, we were able to show the thriving community in Tanzania and stop the deal from going through . . . it was a huge success!

But until recently we remained concerned about retaliation against the Burundian community there.

Today, I am excited to share that after a long wait, the 162,000 Burundians are not only free to remain on their land, but they have also finally been granted citizenship in their adopted country!

You should feel proud of this!

Because in a very real and tangible way you changed lives and helped make this happen. We share this victory with you as an ally and vital Oakland Institute supporter.

Thank you for your continued partnership and understanding of the importance of what we do as a research-based group supporting human rights and the struggles of people on the ground.

We are working hard to expose policies, like those of the World Bank, that lay the groundwork for near-tragedies like what happened in Tanzania.

Can we count on you to support us this year-end? Please give generously to the Oakland Institute.

We can’t do this work without you.

Warmest regards,

Anuradha Mittal
Executive Director