Civil, Faith-based Entities in Africa Denounce “forceful eviction” of Maasais in Tanzania

The civil and faith-based leaders opine that the Tanzanian government is “using a false narrative of conservation to promote elite tourism and commercial hunting”, which they say have “a highly detrimental impact on the environment.”

Officials of the organizations that include the International Cooperation for Development Solidarity (CIDSE) and the Africa Europe Faith & Justice Network (AEFJN) also express concern about the alleged decision by the Tanzanian government to stop social services in Ngorongoro, putting pressure on the Catholic Church to cut down on emergency health services, maternity and childcare.

The government of Tanzania has also arrested some members of the Maasai community and seized their livestock to “silence them and stop any resistance,” the civil and faith-based leaders say.

They say actions by the Tanzanian government are “purposely designed to force people out of the Ngorongoro area, as life will become unbearable without essential services such as health care.”

“This will severely affect the most vulnerable groups: pregnant women and mothers with their small children,” they say.

The civil and faith-based leaders call on the Tanzanian government to “halt forced evictions and start consultations with the Maasai in compliance with international human rights obligations and national laws that state that decisions that will have an impact on Maasai communities have to be made with their involvement, consultation, and free prior and informed consent.”

Since the Maasai, livestock and wildlife can co-exist, they add that solutions to this crisis can be found by building on the pastoralists’ traditional knowledge and practices.