Statement on the continuous threat and imminent eviction of the Maasai in the Loliondo Division in Northern Tanzania
The Indigenous Peoples Rights International (IPRI) calls on the Government of Tanzania (GoT) to immediately stop the violent attacks against the Maasai indigenous pastoralists in the Loliondo Division. IPRI appeals to the GOT to immediately withdraw all State forces from the Maasai traditional lands and engage in a constructive dialogue with Maasai leaders of Loliondo to end the conflict. We reaffirm that the individual and collective rights of the Maasai as recognized under international law must be protected and respected by the GOT instead of attacks and forced evictions.
On June 09, several Maasai pastoralists were wounded after violent attacks by GoT armed forces to evict them from their legally-recognized customary land in order to allocate it for a trophy-hunting area. In the past weeks, the government mobilized approximately 700 military and other state forces setting up camps in various villages in the Loliondo area. Leaders have been criminalized for their public resistance to the GoT’s plans. The threat is causing panic and distress among the Maasai. Their eviction is imminent.
As previously reported by Indigenous Peoples Rights International, these evictions are fueled by the interest of the GoT to develop or grant concessions for the development of game reserves. These actions to establish “fortress conservation areas” are an explicit violation of the collective rights of indigenous peoples.
In their efforts to resist the threats of eviction, the Maasai have organized a series of community meetings and peaceful assemblies to express their views and demand the recognition of their rights to live peacefully in their territory. However, the GoT is already undertaking actions to evict and relocate the Maasai to other areas without their consent. As acknowledged by the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, the GoT is investing resources for the social services in Msomera, a site where the Maasai would be involuntarily relocated after the eviction.
The actions by the Government of Tanzania are happening in direct contravention of international human rights law. Even worse, through a case filed by four Maasai Village Councils before the East African Court of Justice, the Court explicitly ordered:
a) That the [Government of Tanzania] and any persons or officers acting on his behalf, cease and desist from evicting the Plaintiffs [Maasai]; destroying their homesteads or confiscating their livestock on that land, until the determination of Reference No. 10 of 2017 and b) That the Office of the Inspector General of Police restrains from harassing or intimidating the Applicants [Maasai] in relation to Reference No. 10 of 2017 pending the determination thereof.
It is profoundly concerning that the Government of Tanzania is openly criminalizing those who oppose their plans and attacking the Maasai pastoralists. The Maasai in positions of leadership who are opposing the eviction and establishment of the Game Reserve have been arrested, such as Parmwaari Merika, Chairperson of the Oloirien Village. Moreover, at least eight councilors and party chairpersons have been detained for questioning and may face arrest under unknown charges.
The Indigenous Peoples Rights International urges the Government of Tanzania to:
- Immediately stop the violence of State forces against the Maasai.
- Provide justice and reparations to victims of the armed attack.
- Start a process of dialogue with the Maasai leaders based in the respect of their rights.
- Implement the law on community land rights and other individual and collective rights of the Masai indigenous pastoralists consistent with international human rights instruments.
- Stop the criminalization of Maasai leaders; provide access to justice and ensure the respect for their fundamental rights of freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of speech instead of threats and reprisals.
The IPRI also calls on the international community to express their solidarity and support to the Masai indigenous pastoralists in Loliondo and to put pressure on the government to abide by their human rights obligations and stop further attacks, forced eviction and other human rights violations against the Maasai indigenous pastoralists.
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Note: The Indigenous Peoples Rights International (IPRI) is a global Indigenous Peoples organization that works to protect Indigenous Peoples’ rights and unite and amplify the call for justice to victims of criminalization and impunity. Please visit the IPRI website for more information - https://iprights.org/
Contact:
Joan Carling
Executive Director
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