The United Nations called on Tanzania to immediately halt evictions of Maasai families from ancestral lands being cleared for tourism developments, Bloomberg reported on September 1.
Maasai herders are being displaced from homes bordering Serengeti National Park without adequate and meaningful consultation, according to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The committee said restrictions on access to grazing areas, water sources and cultural sites, combined with reduced healthcare, education and water provision in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, have harmed the community’s economic, social and cultural rights and pressured families to relocate.
The rebuke marks the latest flashpoint in a long-running dispute between the Maasai and the Tanzanian government and foreign tourism investors in an industry that generates billions of dollars annually for the country, Bloomberg reported.
The UN said those opposed to the evictions and relocation face risks including arbitrary arrest, detention, reprisals, intimidation and harassment. The committee also cited reports of racial profiling and excessive use of force by law enforcement officials.
The panel called on Tanzania to ensure Maasai communities can exercise their rights without discrimination, including equality before the law and effective participation in decisions that affect them, according to Bloomberg. Where forced evictions cannot be avoided, the committee said affected families should receive adequate alternative housing, compensation and access to effective remedies.