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As the Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in Ivory Coast on January 13th, a continent-wide campaign has been launched targeting the tournament’s main sponsor, Total Energies. The Kick Total Out of AFCON campaign is challenging Total Energies’ sponsorship of AFCON, demanding they end new drilling on the continent and seriously invest in renewables. The campaign accuses the multinational oil company of sportswashing in an attempt to distract from its negative footprint on the continent. The campaign is convened by trailblazing creative and digital media organisation, Magamba Network (Zimbabwe) with an East Africa content hub run by Buni Media (Kenya), and West Africa work covered by Journal Rappé (Senegal). The campaign is being run in partnership with Greenpeace Africa and allies across the continent.
Football captures the heartbeat of Africa – the most widely loved, watched, and played sport which unites the continent. But while we love football, we hate pollution! And even more than that, we’re concerned that companies like Total Energies are infiltrating our beautiful game with their greenwashing sponsorship. Africa is disproportionately affected by the climate crisis, yet Total continues to drill for new oil and gas resources on the continent – flying in the face of their own ‘net zero’ claims as well as global calls for a transition to renewable energy. Sponsorship of AFCON is one element of Total Energies’ strategy to cast themselves in a positive light, detracting from the destructive effects of their activities on the continent. For example, Total’s EACOP pipeline in Uganda and Tanzania will displace more than 100,000 people, has caused food insecurity, caused children to leave school, and is likely to have devastating consequences on the environment1. Another example is northern Mozambique where Total’s US$20 billion natural gas project has exacerbated the conflict in an already unstable region2. Local residents claim that the majority of jobs created in the region have gone to internationals or Mozambicans who hail from the economically advantaged South of the country, exacerbating the already stark regional marginalisation.
Kick Polluters Out is calling on CAF to ditch big polluters like Total Energies who do not deserve not to be associated with the world’s beautiful game. CAF needs to bring an end to companies like Total Energies using our sporting events to sportswash their reputations. The coalition is also calling on Total Energies to end new drilling on the continent and properly invest in renewables.
“Total Energies is guilty of foul play. They like to portray a clean, green image of themselves with their sponsorship of AFCON. But the reality is very different. At a time when scientists are telling us to stop any new fossil fuels projects, Total is developing more oil and gas resources in Africa than any other company,3” says Kick Polluters Out co-founder & Magamba creative director, Samm Farai Monro.
“For example, their EACOP pipeline in East Africa will involve the release of global heating gases more than 25 times the current annual emissions of Uganda and Tanzania combined. How can Total say they are aiming to be net zero when they are setting our continent on fire? It’s time to show Total Energies the red card. Because there can be no football on a dead continent”.
“The Kick Total Out Of AFCON campaign is crucial for highlighting corporate environmental responsibilities in the context of African football. It brings attention to the environmental impacts of big companies like Total Energies, emphasising the need for sustainable practices in a continent rich in natural beauty and biodiversity,” says popular Senegalese rapper, Xuman, a member of the Kick Polluters Out movement, “This campaign is a movement that combines the passion for football with the urgency of protecting Africa’s environment, ensuring that the love for the game is aligned with preserving the continent’s natural resources for future generations.”
The Kick Total Out Of AFCON campaign will be running concurrently with the AFCON football tournament kicking off on 13th January in Ivory Coast. The campaign will include online actions, comedy content, explainer videos, animations, creative youth engagement, music videos and online bootcamps. The campaign is an unlikely network of creatives coming together at pivotal moments to join with African football fans in calling for an end to Total’s abuse of our game for their bottom line.
Greenpeace Africa notes that the recent COP28 resolution clearly mandates a global shift away from fossil fuels”
“Total Energies’ ongoing drilling and exploration in Africa blatantly contradicts this global commitment. Their sponsorship of AFCON should not distract from their actions that risk the health of our planet and future generations. We call for accountability and true environmental stewardship, urging Total Energies to align its operations with the global consensus for a sustainable and fossil-free future. Africa’s rich natural heritage and the well-being of its people should not be compromised for short-term profits. It’s time for Total to play fair, both on and off the football field” says Thandile Chinyavanhu, Greenpeace Africa’s Oil and Gas Campaigner.
About Kick Polluters Out
Kick Polluters Out is a movement of African creatives fighting against sportswashing and greenwashing by Big Polluters. The movement is made up of rappers, cartoonists, comedians, content creators, artists, citizen journalists and climate activists across the continent who are committed to building a just, participatory and green Africa. The network is convened by Zimbabwe’s award-winning creative and digital media organisation, Magamba Network, the East Africa content hub is run by leading multimedia studio, Buni Media, while the West Africa hub is run by the pioneering hip hop news platform, Journal Rappé. The campaign is being run in partnership with Greenpeace Africa and allies of the campaign include Don’t Gas Africa, Fossil Free Football and Cool Down Network.
For more information and updates on the campaign, please follow the campaign on the following platforms: Twitter (X), Tiktok, Instagram and facebook.
Email queries to campaigns@magambanetwork.com