More than 80,000 Maasai are facing eviction from Loliondo and Ngorongoro areas of Tanzania.
On Friday, the government intensified eviction efforts in what was termed as “forceful and violent” by various humanitarian groups.
According to reports by the Survival International humanitarian group and Oakland Institute, the tension in the area arose on Wednesday, when police arrived to oversee the eviction.
“The arrival of a heavy police force shows the government has moved forward with its plan to change the status of Loliondo. It will trigger mass evictions of Maasai living in legally registered villages in the area,” Okland said.
In a video posted by the Survival International group, fired shots can be heard as the natives flee the line of fire.
There have also been graphic images showing what are alleged to be gunshot wounds that the people sustained after the incident.
However, according to a report by BBC, Tanzania’s Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa has dismissed the claims of violence saying no one was being evicted.
The said eviction is a bid to pave way for wildlife conservation and change the status of the area from a Game Controlled Area to a Game Reserve.
“The evictions and restrictions constraining tens of thousands of livelihood are not about ensuring conservation but about expanding tourism revenue within the World Heritage Site,” Okland Institute said.
In 2021, President Suluhu said the eviction plan was triggered by human suffocation of the wildlife population.
The preparation to free the 1500 square – kilometre land began on January 21.
PM Majaliwa said the evictees would be relocated to 162,000 hectares of land in the Handeni district.
The Serengeti ecosystem natives, different African leaders including Narok County Senator Ledama Ole Kina and humanitarian groups continue urging President Suluhu to suspend the order. BY THE STAR