In May, a high-profile delegation of Maasai representatives will start a tour in several countries in Europe to raise its concerns to the main European funders of conservation projects in Tanzania and providers of development aid, and spread awareness on the issues concerning THAT the Tanzanian government enables evictions and violence.
The Maasai have lived for generations in the Serengeti ecosystem in Tanzania and have shaped and protected these lands, preserving wildlife and biodiversity in areas such as Loliondo, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the now Serengeti National Park. However, they have been systematically marginalised and violently evicted from their ancestral lands to make way for conservation projects, tourism, and trophy-hunting schemes, severely violating their human and constitutional rights.
This speakers tour is supported by a group of NGOs and civil society organizations from Europe, in solidarity with the Maasai people of Tanzania.
Key Messages
- The current conservation model, promoted in Tanzania (and around the world) destroys the lives of the Maasai. As pastoralists, the Maasai do not destroy nature but conserve land, wildlife and protected biodiversity as it is their living ground.
- Funding for conservation projects that violated human rights must stop.
- Conservation must go hand in hand with land rights and human rights
Activities
- Public event to the European Parliament
- Rountable event: Maasai shall not die!
- Forced evictions of the Maasai in the Name of Conservation: the Role of the EU and its Member States. Co-organized by the European Green Party, S&D, Renew and the The Left with Maasai and European support organisations
Delegation meets European Governments & Politicians
A Maasai delegation concluded a two-week tour in Europe, engaging with government and European Union (EU) representatives, FBOs and CSOs across Germany, Austria, Italy and Belgium. The delegation aimed to secure support against ongoing evictions from their homeland, generating a wave of solidarity from European counterparts.
Wie Tiere vertrieben | Expelled like Animals (DE)
In Tansania sollen Massai Platz für Tourismus und Trophäenjagd machen. Das Hirtenvolk sieht Menschenrechte verletzt und auch Deutschland in der Verantwortung.
Maasai Counter Argument (25 May, 2023) EN
The Maasai of Ngorongoro and Loliondo have responded to the Tanzanian government’s recent publication entitled “A Rebuttal of Claims about the so-called Indigenous Peoples in Tanzania”. In their response, they affirm that what the government is claiming about them is incorrect, which seriously undermines their human rights in Tanzania.
Debunking Government Claims
This document serves as a response by the Maasai of Ngorongoro and Loliondo to the document titled “A rebuttal of claims about the so-called indigenous peoples in Tanzania” published by the Tanzanian government on 21 April 2023.
A Rebuttal of Claims from the Government of Tanzania
A Tanzanian government document titled’ “A rebuttal of claims about the so-called Indigenous People in Tanzania”
People to People Declaration's Statement
People-to-People Declaration at Laboot of the East Africa Assemblies Indigenous Peoples of East Africa Declaration on ‘Conservation’
FIAN's letter to URT President
FIAN’s deep concern regarding the dire situation about forced eviction of community members in Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) and Loliondo.
Contact
- Edward Porokwa, PINGO’s Forum, +255 754 479 815, eporokwa@pingosforum.or.tz
- Joseph Oleshangay, +255 769 637 623, joseshangay@gmail.com
- Martin Lena, Survival International, +33 142 41 47 62, ml@survivalinternational.fr
Thanks ,the indigenous communities should be respected and their rights also protected
Yes. The Masai deserve to be respected and honored and alive with all the resources they deserve!
We stand with our brothers and sisters from Tanzania who have been persecuted by being dispossed of their land rights and livelihoods.
Yes, The maasai shall never die, most national parks in Tanzania fall under the maasai land, and the we have been evicted several times in creation of Serengeti National Park, Amboseli National Park, Tarangire, Manyara, etc. Including many game reserves like Mkomazi among others.
Yet, the small portion of land we remained with is being grabbed, accompanied with huge violations of human rights and the reason is always said to create a room for conservation!! Conservation for whose benefit??
Maasai culture and the way of life is under threat! There is realy Genoside for the maasai community.
EU, please stop funding this Genoside! Frankfurt Zoological Society is taking a lead and is part and parcel of human rights violators in Tanzania as they are funding Evictions.
The German Ambassador to Tanzania is an anti maasai, who is also supporting this Genoside against maasai community and the loss of their land.
This issue should be recognised and resolved.
Masai never die “as indigenous from Ngorongoro we got many problems because of our land we deserve to have all rights to live in our ancestors land.
We stand with our brothers and sisters in Tanzania stop forcefully eviction respect human rights
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