Opposition to the Base Toliara project has not abated. While it is often portrayed as a major financial investment for national economic growth, it is a source of fear and insecurity for local populations—particularly smallholder farmers and rural women who are already struggling to survive under difficult conditions.
Since the beginning of the popular movement on April 6, 2025, the government’s response has shifted toward repression and state violence. In Benetse, on July 13, five people were arbitrarily arrested, including a 15-year-old boy named Anselme Mihantagna. According to reports from his family and local community, they were subjected to torture during detention.
In such contexts, it is often rural women who suffer the most and in silence. Whenever peace is disrupted, they are the first to lose their land and income, unable to cultivate crops, go to market, or care for their children. When fear and violence are added to this, most of them find themselves excluded from decision-making and silenced in their daily lives.
Local communities must not be subjected to violence, and reality should not be manipulated to suggest that “people have no right to speak.” It is the women farmers who feed Madagascar. If that system collapses, we all lose our vitality and soul as a nation.
Beyond political repression, the Base Toliara mining project poses multiple threats to local communities:
- Land Displacement: Many farmers will be forced off their land, losing not just their jobs, but also their food sovereignty and the cultural and spiritual bonds they have with their land and ancestors.
- Water Pollution: The extraction of ilmenite and the chemicals involved may contaminate water sources and rivers. Women—who collect water and farm crops—will be the first to suffer the consequences.
- Health Hazards: Exposure to dust, toxic gases, and contaminated water can lead to serious illnesses such as cancer, respiratory problems, and kidney and liver damage—especially affecting children and mothers.
- Overuse of Water Resources: Massive water consumption by the mining plant threatens to dry up springs and lakes. Small-scale farmers and livestock keepers, who depend entirely on water, will be left last in line.
- Violation of Fundamental Rights: Local residents were not allowed to fully and fairly participate in public consultations. Instead, they faced misinformation, manipulation, and intimidation for voicing opposition.
- Silencing and Fear: Anyone who speaks out is at risk of being arrested, harassed, or threatened. It is unacceptable for authorities to suppress voices defending their lives and environment.
In response, the following organizations:
- CRAAD-OI (Center for Research and Support for Alternative Development–Indian Ocean),
- F.A.R.M (Femmes en Action Rurale de Madagascar),
- R.J.D.D. (Youth Network for Sustainable Development),
- FI.MA. (Association of Masikoro Men in Antananarivo),
- and FI.FI.MA.MA. (Association of Fiherena Manombo Mangoky),
hereby demand:
- The immediate and unconditional release of the four (4) individuals still secretly detained;
- An end to the repression of community leaders and local people opposing the project;
- Full respect by the state for the voices and demands of local communities;
- Full enforcement of fundamental rights and freedoms: including freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, and protection from arbitrary arrest;
- An independent and impartial investigation into the reports of torture and abuse by state authorities;
- Engagement of the international community and financial supporters to closely monitor the negative impacts of the Base Toliara project.
