Africa: At Least 124 Land and Environmental Defenders Killed Globally in 2025

In 2025, at least 124 land and environmental defenders were killed worldwide, marking a total of 2,375 documented killings and disappearances since 2012, according to a report by Global Witness. Latin America experienced the highest number of killings, accounting for 85% of documented cases, and has been labeled the deadliest region for environmental defenders since the report's inception in 2012.

Small-scale farmers, Indigenous Peoples, and Afro-descendant Peoples constituted more than three-quarters of those killed globally. Colombia and Brazil were the deadliest countries, with Colombia witnessing 39 killings and Brazil having 26, both Indigenous-focused. Honduras and the Philippines followed closely with 12 documented killings each.

Land disputes were responsible for more than half of the killings documented in 2025, alongside extractive and commercial interests. Organized crime was linked to over one-third of the killings, with perpetrators identified in cases across multiple countries. Despite lower documented killings in Asia, the report highlights the widespread criminalization and intimidation of defenders on the continent.

Indigenous Peoples and small-scale farmers were particularly targeted globally. Collective protection mechanisms, including territorial patrols and community monitoring networks, are employed by Indigenous and small-scale farmer communities to safeguard their territories and rights. These collective efforts challenge the limitations of individual protection approaches and aim to prevent violence.

Advocates for land and environmental defenders emphasize the crucial role defenders play in monitoring ecosystems and exposing environmental degradation. They also stress the importance of collective protection as a preventative and life-affirming approach, particularly in the face of increasing dangers posed by organized crime and corporate activities.