Global concern is intensifying after commissions appointed by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan endorsed the eviction of the Maasai people from ancestral lands, backing the continuation and expansion of removals from key conservation areas despite earlier international criticism.
In a press statement on March 18, Survival International noted the commissions backing the mass eviction of Maasai people were established by President Samia Suluhu following previous evictions of Maasai pastoralists from parts of the world-famous Serengeti ecosystem and large-scale protests in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in 2024.
“Two presidential commissions have recommended the mass eviction of Maasai people from some of East Africa’s most iconic conservation areas and tourist destinations,” read the statement in part.
Commisions Back Maasai Evictions
Despite global criticism of earlier evictions, the two presidential commissions have endorsed the continuation of Maasai removals, including from UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Lake Natron.
According to the statement, the commissions described the long-standing Maasai presence in these areas as an “environmental pressure” that should be reduced.
They warned local NGOs supporting the Maasai against “spreading misinformation or propaganda,” claiming such actions conflict with government interests.
The panels recommended relocating all “non-conservation activities,” effectively targeting Maasai settlements, outside designated conservation zones.
“The two Commissions have called for the ‘relocation’ of all ‘non-conservation activities’ [in other words, Maasai occupancy of the land] outside the conservation areas,” it was noted.
They also proposed removing official recognition of the Maasai people’s right to reside in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Also Read: Tanzania Drops Murder Charges against Maasai Pastoralists
Reactions From the Affected Community
Speaking to Survival International on condition of anonymity, the community spokesperson condemned the commission’s recommendations, stating that the community is unfairly blamed for environmental degradation while tourism expansion is ignored.
He described the proposed relocations as a violation of basic rights and dignity and rejected the continuation of the measures.
“We are blamed for environmental degradation, while the unchecked expansion of tourism is ignored. Forced relocation, disguised as policy, has deprived our people of basic rights and dignity. We reject any continuation of these measures and condemn the Commission’s failure to reflect the voices, realities, and rights of our people,” he said.
The authorities maintain that these are “voluntary relocations.” However, the community has overwhelmingly rejected being moved.
Also Read: Tactics the Government is Using to Force Tanzania’s Maasai Off Their Ancestral Land
Previous Maasai Evictions
In August 2024, the Tanzanian government was accused of forcibly evicting the Maasai people, semi-nomadic pastoralists spread across Kenya and Tanzania, from their ancestral lands, stating that they are encroaching upon wildlife preserves and national park territory.
Although the members took the matter to the East African Court of Justice, the case was dismissed as judges ruled that those evicted could not prove they were outside the park’s boundaries.
Facing the injustice in their home country, the community took their complaints to the government’s largest funders, including the European Union and World Bank, successfully urging them to stop sending funds in an effort to pressure the government into halting the targeted violence.
