UN committee urges Tanzania to end forced Maasai evictions and police abuse

In a recent statement, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination expressed alarm over the forced removal of Indigenous Maasai from their ancestral lands within Tanzania's Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The committee documented a pattern of arbitrary arrests, intimidation, racial profiling and excessive use of force by law-enforcement officials against Maasai who oppose relocation. It highlighted that restrictions on grazing, water sources, cultural sites and a decline in health, education and other essential services have eroded the community's economic, social and cultural rights.

Tanzanian authorities, who historically permitted Maasai to reside in national parks, began a relocation program in 2022, arguing that a rise from about 8,000 to over 100,000 residents threatens wildlife habitats amid drought and reduced crop yields. The committee called for an immediate halt to forced evictions, provision of adequate alternative housing and compensation where moves are unavoidable, and insisted on genuine consultation and informed consent for any conservation, tourism or development projects. While its recommendations are not legally binding, they aim to ensure equality before the law and effective participation for the Maasai.