--- title: Greenpeace Africa — 20 Years description: Two decades of defending Africa's forests, oceans, climate and communities. Explore 20 years of Greenpeace Africa. image: https://pages.greenpeaceafrica.org/hubfs/20th%20year%20anniversary/2025_v2.jpg --- # Twenty years of standing up for Africa For twenty years, we’ve stood with the communities of the **Congo Basin’s rainforests** and **West Africa’s fishing coast**, defending the people and ecosystems that sustain them. We’ve won in court against nuclear and oil deals, stopped the destruction of thousands of acres of forest, and exposed illegal trawlers operating at sea. This is a timeline of what people power can do. Twenty years of people power. Scroll to see how we got here. #GreenpeaceAfrica20 [Support our next chapter ❤](https://pages.greenpeaceafrica.org/twenty-years-of-standing-up-for-africa#donate) [Explore the timeline ↓](https://pages.greenpeaceafrica.org/twenty-years-of-standing-up-for-africa#timeline) ![Greenpeace Africa — 20 Years of Impact. People, Action, Solutions.](https://pages.greenpeaceafrica.org/hubfs/20th%20year%20anniversary/20th-year-logo.png) Our story Years ‹ 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 › The journey ## Two decades, one continent, countless victories Each year below marks a moment where Greenpeace Africa and the communities we work alongside pushed back - for forests, oceans, clean energy and climate justice. 2006 ![Greenpeace Africa 2006](https://pages.greenpeaceafrica.org/hubfs/20th%20year%20anniversary/2006_1.jpg) © Randy Lutanga / Greenpeace ### Greenpeace commits to opening its first African Office - Greenpeace Belgium and other national Greenpeace offices undertook a series of scouting missions to Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between 1999 and 2003. - The evidence gathered during these years laid the groundwork for sustained campaigning and advocacy to protect the Congo Basin. To turn that momentum into a concrete plan, Greenpeace International approved the opening of an African office. The decision marked a turning point: Greenpeace committed to stop working on the region from a distance and to build a permanent presence on the continent. 2007 ![Greenpeace Africa 2007](https://pages.greenpeaceafrica.org/hubfs/20th%20year%20anniversary/2007.jpg) © Greenpeace / Kate Davison ### Launched a report exposing illegal logging in Cameroon and the DRC - The landmark report Carving up the Congo was published, presenting the findings of extensive investigations into illegal and excessive logging in Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). - By tracing the timber from Congo Basin forests to international markets, it drew global attention to the role of buyers and governments in driving forest destruction, and it became a key reference point for campaigning, policy debate, and calls for stronger forest protection in Central Africa. 2008 ![Greenpeace Africa 2008](https://pages.greenpeaceafrica.org/hubfs/20th%20year%20anniversary/2008.jpg) © Greenpeace / Philip Reynaers ### Greenpeace Africa Officially Opens an Office In the DRC - The official expansion into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) marked a turning point, establishing a permanent, on-the-ground presence in Kinshasa. Moving beyond occasional scouting missions and short-term investigations, this local base allowed the organisation to work year-round alongside Congolese partners, civil society groups, and forest-dependent communities. 2009 ![Greenpeace Africa 2009](https://pages.greenpeaceafrica.org/hubfs/20th%20year%20anniversary/2009_1.jpg) © Greenpeace / Alex Yallop ### Redefined Conservation Beyond Standard Park Boundaries - Made a mark by moving forest protection in the Congo Basin beyond just drawing park boundaries and patrolling them, toward giving communities and civil society groups an actual say in how forests were managed. - When plans were made for how a forest should be used, communities and civil society organisations could point to these new rules and demand to be included in the process, creating a check on decisions that used to be made without them. 2010 ![Greenpeace Africa 2010](https://pages.greenpeaceafrica.org/hubfs/20th%20year%20anniversary/2010_1.jpg) © Clément Tardif / Greenpeace ### A Participatory Governance Model Takes Shape in The Congo Basin - Created a common pool of evidence that communities, civil society groups, researchers, and government authorities could all draw from, instead of each side arguing from its own separate version of events. When conflicts came up over how forest or land should be used, this shared evidence gave everyone the same starting point to negotiate from, building trust and accountability that lasted even after the original monitoring projects wrapped up. 2011 ![Greenpeace Africa 2011](https://pages.greenpeaceafrica.org/hubfs/20th%20year%20anniversary/2011.jpg) © Francisco Rivotti / Greenpeace ### Taking African Artisanal Fishers to European Parliaments Launched the African Voices Tour, bringing a delegation of artisanal fishers from Senegal, Cape Verde, and Mauritania directly into nine European capitals and parliaments. - Confronted European decision-makers with field evidence from the reports How Africa Feeds Europe and Empty Nets, Empty Future. - Exposed how EU-subsidized industrial trawlers were depleting West African fish stocks and devastating local livelihoods. 2012 ![Greenpeace Africa 2012](https://pages.greenpeaceafrica.org/hubfs/20th%20year%20anniversary/2012.jpg) © Greenpeace / Pierre Gleizes ### Cancellation of 29 fishing licences in Senegal Greenpeace Africa celebrating its 5th anniversary - Marked by the cancellation of 29 foreign industrial fishing licenses in Senegal. - An intense joint campaigning and an expedition aboard the Esperanza ship off the coast of West Africa - The newly elected Senegalese government revoked the permits of foreign pelagic trawlers, protecting local fish stocks and local fishermen's livelihoods. 2013 ![Greenpeace Africa 2013](https://pages.greenpeaceafrica.org/hubfs/20th%20year%20anniversary/2013.jpg) © Jan-Joseph Stok / Greenpeace ### Standing Against Deforestation in the Congo Basin We stopped Herakles Farms' palm oil expansion in Cameroon. - Greenpeace Africa and local partners brought public attention to the issue. - The government of Cameroon drastically reduced Herakles Farms' land concession from over 73,000 hectares to less than 20,000 hectares. - Protected vast stretches of primary rainforest and critical biodiversity corridors. 2014 ![Greenpeace Africa 2014](https://pages.greenpeaceafrica.org/hubfs/20th%20year%20anniversary/2014_1.jpg) © Greenpeace / John Novis ### Cameroon proved that farming and forests can thrive together - As industrial agriculture expands across Africa, and into the forests of the Congo Basin in particular, Greenpeace is highlighting ecological farming alternatives that work for everyone. These approaches support farmers’ livelihoods, provide consumers with healthy, locally grown food, and safeguard the natural resources that communities and wildlife depend on. - Cameroon’s example shows that feeding people and protecting one of the world’s most vital forests are not competing goals. With the right support, they reinforce each other. 2015 ![Greenpeace Africa 2015](https://pages.greenpeaceafrica.org/hubfs/20th%20year%20anniversary/2015.jpg) © Shayne Robinson / Greenpeace ### Won the Anti-Nuclear Legal Battle Against Eskom Filed a decisive legal action against South Africa’s state power utility, Eskom, challenging its secret, unconstitutional nuclear procurement plans. - Halted multi-billion-dollar nuclear deals with Russia's Rosatom, protecting public funds and keeping South Africa’s energy debate focused on renewable alternatives. 2016 ![Greenpeace Africa 2016](https://pages.greenpeaceafrica.org/hubfs/20th%20year%20anniversary/2016.jpg) © Liu Yuyang / Greenpeace ### Intercepting Illegal Foreign Trawlers Off the Coast of West Africa Deployed our ship, the Myrtle Hazard, to conduct at-sea patrols. - Partnered with local artisanal fishing communities and regulatory authorities in Senegal and Guinea-Bissau. - The joint operations exposed multiple foreign industrial fishing vessels operating illegally in protected coastal zones reserved for local fishers. 2017 ![Greenpeace Africa 2017](https://pages.greenpeaceafrica.org/hubfs/20th%20year%20anniversary/2017.jpg) © Greenpeace ### Victory Against the Nuclear Deal Court victory blocking South Africa's multi-billion-dollar nuclear deal. - Challenged the nuclear deal. - The Western Cape High Court ruled the procurement process unlawful and unconstitutional. - The ruling halted the proposed $76 billion nuclear expansion deal with Russia. 2018 ![Greenpeace Africa 2018](https://pages.greenpeaceafrica.org/hubfs/20th%20year%20anniversary/2018.jpg) © Ruth Sacco / Greenpeace ### The Dark Days of South Africa 2018 was a dark year for access to safe and clean water. South Africa had to face the reality of a mega water crisis in three provinces. - We lobbied the national government until they officially declared the water crisis a national disaster - Government unlocked an extraordinary R6 billion in emergency budget relief to safeguard vulnerable communities. 2019 ![Greenpeace Africa 2019](https://pages.greenpeaceafrica.org/hubfs/20th%20year%20anniversary/2019.jpg) © Greenpeace ### Exposing Corporate Plastic Pollution Greenpeace Africa organized volunteers and local community groups across major urban hubs to conduct brand audits of plastic waste collected during cleanups. - The data publicly named the world's top fast-moving consumer goods companies responsible for local plastic pollution 2020 ![Greenpeace Africa 2020](https://pages.greenpeaceafrica.org/hubfs/20th%20year%20anniversary/2020.jpg) © Pape Diatta Sarr / Greenpeace ### Cancelling Fishmeal & Fish Oil Expansion Landmark cancellation of foreign fishmeal and fish oil (FMFO) factory expansion plans in Senegal. - Joined women fish processors and artisanal fishers. - Challenged fishmeal operations threatening local livelihoods. - Stopped new fishmeal plants and protected food security. 2021 ![Greenpeace Africa 2021](https://pages.greenpeaceafrica.org/hubfs/20th%20year%20anniversary/2021.jpg) © Omar Bayo Fall / Greenpeace ### Challenged the construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline - Through public demonstrations, shareholder pressure, and global mobilization targeting international commercial banks, the campaign successfully pressured over a dozen major financial institutions to rule out funding for the project. 2022 ![Greenpeace Africa 2022](https://pages.greenpeaceafrica.org/hubfs/20th%20year%20anniversary/2022.jpg) © Natanya Harrington / Greenpeace ### Victory Against Shell High Court ruling setting aside Shell’s exploration right along South Africa’s Wild Coast. - The Makhanda High Court reviewed Shell’s exploration rights. - The court found the consultation process inadequate. - It set aside the exploration rights in September 2022. 2023 Your browser does not support the video tag. © Greenpeace ### Cancellation of the 27 oil block tenders in DRC Mobilized local and international opposition against the DRC’s 30-block oil and gas auction. - Exposed grave biodiversity and carbon risks to secure the official cancellation of the 27 oil block tenders. 2024 ![Greenpeace Africa 2024](https://pages.greenpeaceafrica.org/hubfs/20th%20year%20anniversary/2024.jpg) © Kevin McElvaney / Greenpeace ### Confronting Waste Colonialism Exposed how Global North overproduction dumped 15 million second-hand garments onto Accra's Kantamanto Market every week. - Campaigned against textile waste colonialism, exposing how fast-fashion overproduction in the Global North is offloaded onto communities in Africa. 2025 ![Greenpeace Africa 2025](https://pages.greenpeaceafrica.org/hubfs/20th%20year%20anniversary/2025_v2.jpg) © Caleb Mbuvi / Greenpeace ### Kenyan Court Rules “Sharing Seeds is Not a Crime” Landmark Verdict for Food Sovereignty - This judgment established a powerful legal precedent globally, affirming that the ancient right of farmers to save and share seeds supersedes commercial interests, reshaping the legal balance of power between communities and agribusiness worldwide. 2026 ![Greenpeace Africa 2026](https://pages.greenpeaceafrica.org/hubfs/20th%20year%20anniversary/2026.jpg) © Greenpeace / Caleb Mbuvi ### New office launch We officially launched our office in Mauritius - This strategic move will allow us to work with Mauritian communities to protect marine ecosystems and advance ocean justice. - Opening an office in Mauritius represents a commitment that Greenpeace Africa is making to the Indian Ocean, to island nations, and to the millions of Africans whose livelihoods depend on healthy marine ecosystems. We are here because the ocean does not recognise borders, and neither does environmental injustice. What unfolds in island states such as Mauritius will have a lasting impact on the future of ocean protection and climate action, far beyond these shores. ## Help us write the *next twenty years* For 20 years, Greenpeace Africa has stood alongside communities, challenged environmental destruction, and fought to protect Africa's forests, oceans, climate and people. But our work is far from over. The future of our planet is being decided right now. Help us shape it. [Donate now ❤](https://africadonate.greenpeace.org/page/FUNJBDSUKEJ?ref=20th-anniversary&ctg=landing-page) 20 Years of action 10+ Countries reached ∞ Reasons to keep going Spread the word ## Share 20 years of impact Help more people discover what two decades of people-powered environmental action looks like across Africa. 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