Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People

Nigerian organization

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July 19, 2026

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The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) was a Nigerian organization founded to advocate for the rights of the Ogoni people. Led by writer and activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, MOSOP protested against the environmental damage caused by the oil industry, particularly by Royal Dutch/Shell, in the Niger Delta region. Saro-Wiwa also demanded a greater share of oil profits for the Ogoni.

MOSOP's activism led to Shell suspending operations in Ogoni lands in 1993. However, Saro-Wiwa and eight other activists, known as the Ogoni Nine, were executed in 1995 after being found guilty of murder by a military-appointed tribunal. This event drew international condemnation and led to Nigeria's suspension from the Commonwealth. In 2025, the Ogoni Nine were posthumously pardoned and honored by the Nigerian president Bola Tinubu.1

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Ken Saro-Wiwa
…broadened the reach of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, an organization he led. In particular, he focused on Britain, where Shell had one of its headquarters. He criticized the destructive impact of the oil industry—the main source of Nigeria’s national revenue—on the Niger delta region and…
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…broadened the reach of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, an organization he led. In particular, he focused on Britain, where Shell had one of its headquarters. He criticized the destructive impact of the oil industry—the main source of Nigeria’s national revenue—on the Niger delta region and…
Read More