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06.09.17

The Maasai's struggle for their land - How it started

Maasai children and women on the run | © Veterinarians without Borders

As reported, the situation in the Western Serengeti in Tanzania has escalated recently: many Maasai villages have been ruthlessly burned and countless Maasai lost the basis of their existence.

What are the backgrounds for the ruthless expulsion of the Maasai from the Western Serengeti? The disputes on Maasai land have begun more than 30 years ago. At that time, the Tanzanian government sold 4,000 ha of Maasai pasture land to a local brewery. The Maasai were neither involved in the sale, nor did they receive any compensation for the loss of their land. But at least they could continue to use most of the pastures for grazing their livestock.

This agreement found a sudden end in 2006, when the brewery sold this land to a safari company (Thomson Safaris). Since then, the Maasai have been denied access to their land. With International support, the affected Maasai villages sued both the brewery and the safari company. Most of the Maasai's claims were rejected. They continue to be denied access to fertile pastures. The Maasai have appealed the court decision. However, the outcome is uncertain.

What does that mean for the Maasai?
The land of their ancestors has a very strong spiritual significance for the Maasai. Especially in 2015, but unfortunately at the moment, Maasai villages are set on fire to expel them from their land. Most of the Maasai live below the poverty line. Their livestock is all they own. Without their animals, they would be forced to go to the cities and work as peons.

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