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Africa

Indigenous Peoples of Africa

It is estimated that there are some 50 million Indigenous persons in Africa; their territories cover a variety of ecosystems, including grasslands, forests, coastal areas, and deserts. Their livelihoods include herding, hunting and gathering, small-scale farming, and fishing.

Challenges

Indigenous Peoples in Africa are among the most marginalized Peoples in the world. For most African countries even recognizing their existence is a contentious issue. Although we have seen some progress in recent years, including – historic cases won by the San-Basarwa of Botswana, and the Endorois and Ogiek Peoples of Kenya; and legal recognition in The Republic of Congo, Kenya, Burundi, and Cameroon – the rights of Africa’s Indigenous Peoples are under assault from militarized conservation programs, large infrastructure projects, mining, oil, logging and industrial agriculture. In the Sahel region, Russian mercenary groups are employed to terrorize Indigenous Peoples’ communities in order to gain access to mineral resources. Climate change is also having a dramatic impact on Africa’s Indigenous Peoples, causing prolonged drought in many area

Land is Life in Africa

Our work supports Indigenous Peoples in Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Mali, Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Cameroon, and Burkina Faso.

Our Programs in Africa

  1. Indigenous Women’s Program
  2. Indigenous-Led Security Funds
  3. Advocacy, Campaigns, and Strategic Engagement
  4. Indigenous Food Sovereignty & Security Program
  5. Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) Program

KEY LAND IS LIFE’S PARTNERS IN AFRICA

The Maasai people in Tanzania have occupied their territories for centuries. However, in recent years, they have been increasingly under pressure from the Tanzanian Government to leave their lands. This has led to major disputes, deaths and the eviction of thousands to make way for ‘Conservation Areas’. The most recent evictions are the result of agreements between the Tanzanian Government and firms linked to the Royal Family of the United Arab Emirates that are planning to set up a reserve for big game hunters, principally the Royal Family and their friends. Recent court decisions have favored the Maasai people, but the government refuses to implement these rulings, and the violence and forced evictions continue.

Land is Life supports the Maasai in their efforts to remain in their homelands, and to forge new models of conservation based on recognition of the Maasai People’s contributions to biodiversity protection, and respect for their collective rights to their territories and resources.

The Ogiek people of Kenya face a similar situation to the Maasai people in Tanzania. In their case, the evictions are apparently related to a Carbon Offset project, once again linked to the United Arab Emirates, this time in the form of the company Blue Carbon, which has been making big money conservation/carbon credit deals with governments across Africa, including Kenya. The amount of land involved is said to be in the millions of hectares. Once again, despite judicial decisions in their favor, the Kenyan government continues to violently evict the Ogiek people from their territory.

Land is Life works to ensure full implementation of the Ogiek v Kenya court decision of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, supports the Ogiek people in their fight to retain the rights to their traditional territory, and to pursue their self-determined development priorities.

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