The right to food in the face of land commodification and economic globalisation in West Africa: The case of Guinea

Abstract

Against the backdrop of accelerating economic globalisation and the dynamics of land appropriation and commodification in West Africa, there are growing concerns about human rights, particularly the right to food. In Guinea, problems are emerging within a framework characterised by land market liberalisation, increasing foreign investment pressure, and inadequate legal mechanisms to effectively protect rural populations. The right to food, recognised as a fundamental human right in numerous international legal instruments including, what is noteworthy, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), encompasses not only the physical and economic access to adequate food, but also a secure access to productive resources, especially land. Yet, current land policies tend to promote a utilitarian and market-driven view of land, often to the detriment of local ‘communities’ rights and food sovereignty. This article critically analyses the tensions between land commodification, the logic of economic globalisation, and the effective realisation of the right to food in Guinea. Adopting a human rights-based approach, it seeks to examine the responsibilities of both the Guinean State and private and international actors regarding the protection and fulfilment of this right. Drawing on the example of Guinea for reflection on broader regional trends in West Africa and the specific legal and socio-political context, the paper investigates legal sources, field studies, and public policies in light of international human rights standards.