Struggle for Land: Maasai Protests Against Forced Evictions

The Maasai community in northern Tanzania protests government plans to evict them from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area for luxury tourism and conservation, spotlighting the risk of disenfranchising Indigenous people under global conservation pledges. Human rights groups highlight coercion and violence against the Maasai amid calls for more inclusive conservation efforts.

For a week, the iconic blood-red shuka cloths of Maasai herdsmen have dotted the green hills around Tanzania's Ngorongoro crater. Tens of thousands are protesting their eviction from ancestral lands, a move by the Tanzanian government in the name of conservation.

This isn't the first time the Maasai have faced displacement. From being removed in the 1950s by the British colonial government to make way for the Serengeti National Park, to recent actions targeting the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which was later designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Maasai have endured continuous relocations to enhance tourism and trophy hunting.

Activists argue the eviction efforts are more harmful to Indigenous communities than beneficial for the environment. Despite the government's claims of voluntary relocation, rights groups cite intimidation, violence, and restricted access to basic needs. The global 30x30 conservation framework pledges inclusivity, but implementation often falls short, ignoring the Maasai's role as stewards of the land.

(With inputs from agencies.)