The Tanzanian government’s attempts to evict the Maasai from their ancestral lands in Loliondo have intensified over the past few months. Criminalization and stigmatization are used as a means to turn the territory of the Maasai into a game area for elite tourism.
In June, we shared the struggle of the Indigenous Maasai pastoralists who are resisting the government’s violent attempts to evict them from their homelands in Loliondo, Northern Tanzania. These tensions have been ongoing for more than a decade as the Otterlo Business Corporation, (OBC) which organizes hunting safaris for the royal family of Dubai, continues to lobby the Tanzanian government to turn the grazing lands and villages of the Maasai into a protected game area.
Despite the Maasai’s persistent resistance, as well as widespread support from civil society and the international community, the Government of Tanzania has not halted its unjust efforts – on the contrary. The Maasai have responded to the increasing oppression by organizing protests that have, in some cases, been met with violence.
In one of these protests in late June a police officer lost his life, which led to 27 Maasai being detained and falsely charged with murder. Today, 24 of those charged still remain in jail. Furthermore, over 90 Maasai have been falsely accused of being illegal immigrants in their own country, out of whom 45 are still being kept in detention. These people are unlawfully imprisoned or detained to keep them from defending their lands.
The Tanzanian government has also confiscated hundreds of Maasai cattle, deployed large police and military troops in their lands to sow fear, and limited the communication and mobility of the Maasai by destroying their phones and motorbikes. A misinformation and stigmatization campaign is also being conducted to legitimize this terror. People who have been wounded in the protests are denied medical care. Food supply to the area is being restricted. Women and children are in an extremely vulnerable situation, especially those who are staying in camps with a lack of basic needs due to the destruction of their homes.
“A woman with diabetes became seriously ill and fainted as she lacked medication. We are seriously suffering.” – Maasai leader (name withheld for security reasons)
These human rights violations must come to an end. Increased pressure from the international community is needed to have the State of Tanzania stop the land grabbing without the free, prior and informed consent of the Maasai. Land is Life joins the calls on the State of Tanzania to immediately release the 24 Maasai who are still in jail and drop their false charges. We also urge travel agencies across the world to immediately stop arranging trophy hunting tours in Indigenous territories.
