Tanzania Faces Backlash Over Forced Maasai Evictions for Conservation

In Summary

• Tanzania is forcibly evicting Indigenous Maasai from their ancestral lands under the guise of conservation and tourism development.
• A Human Rights Watch (HRW) report highlights the lack of consent, rights violations, and violence against the Maasai during the relocation process.
• The program aims to move over 82,000 Maasai from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to Msomera village, leading to tension and deadly clashes.
• HRW urges the Tanzanian government to reconsider its approach and respect the rights and dignity of the Maasai people.

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – Tanzania has been forcibly evicting Indigenous Maasai communities from their ancestral lands, according to a damning report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) released on Wednesday. The report reveals the Tanzanian government’s intention to relocate more than 82,000 Maasai from their homes in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) to Msomera village, some 600 kilometers (370 miles) away, to make way for conservation and tourism purposes.

The Maasai have lived in the NCA for generations, coexisting with wildlife and maintaining their nomadic lifestyle. However, tensions have escalated as the government pushes forward with its relocation program, which was launched in 2022. The HRW report highlights the severe consequences of this initiative, including violent clashes between authorities and the Maasai community, which have at times turned deadly.

Between August 2022 and December 2023, HRW conducted interviews with nearly 100 individuals, including Maasai community members who had already been relocated to Msomera village and those who were facing imminent relocation. The findings paint a grim picture of rights violations and violence during the relocation process.

One of the most troubling aspects of the report is the Tanzanian government’s failure to obtain the free, prior, and informed consent of the Indigenous Maasai residents regarding the relocation plan. Many residents reported violations of their rights to land, education, health, and fair compensation. Additionally, HRW documented 13 incidents of beatings by government-employed rangers between September 2022 and July 2023. The rangers, tasked with enforcing the relocation, were reported to have assaulted and beaten residents with impunity.

In Msomera village, fear and intimidation are pervasive among the relocated Maasai. One resident told HRW that those who dared to speak out against the relocation faced threats from rangers and security forces. "You’re not allowed to say anything," the resident said, describing the fear that has taken hold in the community.

Juliana Nnoko, a senior researcher on women and land at HRW, condemned the Tanzanian government’s actions, emphasizing the need to respect the rights of the Maasai. "It is an ethical obligation as well as a legal one," Nnoko stated. "The government should urgently reconsider its approach to ensure the survival, well-being, and dignity of the Maasai people, which this relocation process is putting at grave risk."

Despite the international outcry, Tanzania’s government has consistently maintained that its relocation scheme complies with the country’s laws regarding rights. However, the HRW report underscores the urgent need for the government to reevaluate its actions and prioritize the rights and dignity of the Maasai communities.

The forced evictions have drawn widespread criticism from human rights organizations, with calls for Tanzania to halt the relocation and engage in meaningful dialogue with the Maasai people. The ongoing situation has not only highlighted the vulnerability of Indigenous communities in the face of state-led development projects but has also raised broader concerns about the balance between conservation efforts and human rights.