Our Maasai brothers and sisters of Loliondo, Tanzania, are facing an extremely serious situation due to the violent dispossession of their ancestral lands for a sport-hunting company linked to the United Arab Emirates Royal Family.

The government of Tanzania is systematically attacking the Maasai indigenous peoples. Maasai leaders and defenders are imprisoned on trumped-up charges; hundreds of families are suffering forced displacement - with the consequent loss of property, health, and education, among others - children, elders, and women are starving. This is happening while threats of violence and criminalization continue.

The international community needs to speak out against these violations, demand the respect and protection of the Maasai’s individual and collective rights and access to justice for the victims. We have prepared an open letter to the President of Tanzania (displayed below) to express our strong solidarity with the Maasai and to demand a stop to these human rights violations that threaten the collective survival of thousands of Maasai indigenous pastoralists.

If you and your organizations can support this letter, please fill out this form.

The letter will be sent to the President of Tanzania and to people related to Otterlo Business Corporation and will be disseminated through social networks and mail. 

In solidarity, 

Joan Carling

IPRI Executive Director

“Indigenous peoples across the globe are increasingly subjected to criminalization and violations of their individual and collective rights with impunity. Help put an end to this.”