Africa's green transition risks repeating colonial-era resource extraction patterns

Despite its potential for renewable energy expansion, a troubling reality exists where African communities bear the costs of this transition. Activists and experts at the Regional Ecofeminist Convening in Harare, Zimbabwe, highlighted "energy transition extractivism," noting that communities near mineral deposits in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe face displacement, environmental destruction, and exploitation. Similar issues are emerging in Mozambique, Uganda, and Madagascar.

Kenya's renewable energy success story also has a downside, with Maasai and Turkana communities losing land and heritage for geothermal plants and wind farms, while still facing expensive electricity. The South African Just Energy Transition Partnership, backed by an US$8.5 billion international financing package, has seen unmet promises regarding reskilling and compensation, as commitments were political rather than legally enforceable. Communities often feel excluded from decisions, with environmental impact assessments lacking genuine consultation and contracts negotiated behind closed doors.

The legal system also presents imbalances, favoring governments and corporations. Participants called for "movement lawyering," where legal professionals work alongside communities, and for investing in community paralegals and recognizing indigenous knowledge systems. The futu