Since 2009, private businesses have been complicit in forced evictions of Maasai Indigenous communities from their ancestral lands in Loliondo by Tanzanian authorities, Amnesty International said today in a new report.

The new report, ‘Business as usual in bloodied land? The role of businesses in forced evictions in Loliondo, Tanzania’, details how Otterlo Business Corporation (OBC), a trophy hunting company linked to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister of the UAE and a member of the ruling royal family, has participated in forcibly evicting Maasai Indigenous communities by, among other things, accompanying Tanzanian security forces and allowing the authorities to set up camps on OBC property during all forced evictions. At the very least this indicates that OBC was aware that security forces were involved in these operations. At most, it means that the company was not only aware, but also facilitated the security forces’ involvement in the forced evictions.

Other tourism companies, including the TAASA Lodge and &BEYOND, are also operating in the area where Maasai have been forcibly evicted.

“Since 2009, the Tanzanian authorities have resorted to ill-treatment, excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests and detentions to forcibly evict the Maasai while leasing their land to private companies. It is particularly disturbing that they have carried out these evictions under the pretext of ‘conservation’, while in reality, they have allowed OBC to do improper or illegal trophy hunting activities, in clear violation of Tanzania’s Wildlife Conservation laws,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa.

“The Tanzanian authorities must conduct a prompt, impartial, independent, effective and transparent investigation into corporate complicity in the forced evictions of Maasai communities in Loliondo — and the suspected perpetrators of these human rights violations must be brought to justice in fair trials. The authorities should also investigate reported wildlife crimes committed by trophy hunting businesses in the region. Victims must be provided with access to justice and effective remedies.”

Amnesty International conducted research into forced evictions of the Maasai Indigenous People of Loliondo between June 2022 and May 2024, with a particular focus on the role of businesses operating in the traditional lands owned and used by the Maasai. In April 2024, the organisation visited Arusha region on a fact-finding mission and interviewed nine people, including one current employee and four former employees of the private companies in Loliondo, all residents of Loliondo, and one lawyer, who were all privy to internal operations of the companies and sometimes involved in conversations on and implementation of the companies’ plans.

The organization’s Evidence Lab examined 23 images and seven videos, conducted an open-source investigation and analysed recent changes in locations of businesses operating in Loliondo, which were visible on satellite imagery.

The organization also reviewed media reports, official documents, relevant legislation, company disclosures, and scientific studies. With the support of advocates in Tanzania, Amnesty International was also able to obtain company incorporation details for the companies under investigation.

Stifled protests and forced evictions

On 10 June 2022, Tanzanian security forces resorted to the use of excessive force, including using live ammunition and tear gas, to stifle peaceful protests by Maasai residents of Ololosokwan village in Loliondo. The demonstrators had gathered to resist a demarcation exercise by the security forces, who were trying to displace them from their ancestral lands in the name of so-called “conservation”. More than 40 people were wounded, others were left homeless, and many were forced to flee the country. Those who sought shelter in Kenya with their relatives and friends were living without means of earning a livelihood. The eviction marked the fourth time the Maasai have been forcibly expelled from their land, following previous evictions in 2009, 2013, and 2017.

Community members from villages in Loliondo that were impacted by forced evictions, as well as current and former OBC staff, said that OBC had participated in all forced evictions in Loliondo. They told Amnesty International that OBC representatives known to them and OBC branded vehicles were present during the forced evictions. They also said that, during every eviction, Tanzania’s security forces set up camp in OBC properties and were accompanied by OBC staff and vehicles as they moved into Loliondo villages.

On 12 July 2024, Amnesty International wrote to &BEYOND, OBC and TAASA Lodge to inform them of the relevant allegations and findings contained in the report and to give them the opportunity to respond. Only &BEYOND and TAASA Lodge responded.

&BEYOND responded saying, “… that the land in question, albeit in dispute, is no longer under the control of the Ololosokwan Village Council, but the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (“the Lessors”).” &BEYOND further mentioned that they “cannot disclose the terms of [their] lease agreement with the Lessors.” The company also acknowledged that there is an ongoing litigation over the land in question and claimed that as a lessee, they have no influence over the Lessors, further adding that they can only await the outcome of the court’s ruling before they determine their position in the land question. TAASA Lodge said that they “… were never consulted on any of the planned actions around the time of the evictions, and remain committed to [their] staff and communities, as [they] are to following the rule of law.”

Four former and one current OBC staff members also told Amnesty International that they were working with the company when members of the UAE royal family that are associated with the OBC ownership visited the country for hunting and other tourism activities between 1996 and 2016. In June 2024, the Arusha Regional Commissioner served as a chaperone for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister of the UAE, as he inspected water projects in Loliondo.

“It is deeply troubling that Otterlo Business Corporation’s role in the evictions likely contributed to the harm caused by Tanzania’s security forces. This company appears to not only have been aware that state security forces were involved in the forced evictions, but to have actively facilitated the forced evictions,” said Tigere Chagutah.

“While they were not implicated in eyewitness testimonies, TAASA Lodge and &BEYOND’s Klein’s Camp should also carry out ongoing due diligence to identify whether their operations are linked to any negative human rights impacts or environmental harms. Businesses operating in Loliondo must commit to respecting in their operations the rights of the Maasai Indigenous People, and to providing appropriate remedies if they cause or contribute to acts that harm the community.

“The state must reverse its land acquisition decision in Loliondo and ensure that no land acquisition or evictions proceed unless the Maasai People give their free, prior, and informed consent through a process of genuine consultations.”

Background

This research builds on Amnesty International’s previous investigations into how the Tanzanian authorities have forcibly evicted the Maasai Indigenous people of Loliondo.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amnesty International.

Igara West MP, Hon. Gaffa Mbwatekamwa, has called on government to account for and rescue Ugandan students stranded in Iran following an alleged fake scholarship scheme coordinated through the Office of the National Chairman of NRM Party in Kyambogo.  

Hon. Mbwatekamwa said that the 100 students were lured into applying for the fully funded study opportunities but could not find the courses applied for on arrival in Iran. He added that each student was made to pay US$ 800 as a requirement for travel to Iran.

“On 10 October 2023 the Office of NRM National Chairman, Kyambogo wrote an advert requesting all Ugandans who wanted to go to Iran on scholarship for various courses. One hundred students were taken and promised that the scholarship would cover all the costs, but as we talk, when they reached some found that the courses they were told do not exist,” he said.

He said that some of the students have been pushed to the streets, with some girls turning to prostitution.

Hon. Abed Bwanika (NUP, Kimaanya-Kabonera Division), attested to the plight of Ugandan students in Iran, citing a relative who was allegedly duped in the same scheme.

“One of my relatives is a victim of the scheme. He was taken to Iran by the same office to study veterinary medicine, and was stranded and did not even have transport back. We have just evacuated him.  This is a serious matter and it must be investigated,” said Bwanika.

The Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Muwada Nkunyingi said government should use this crisis to address the gaps in diplomatic representation in Iran created by the demise of former Ugandan Ambassador to Iran, Muhammad Kisambira in August 2023. 

Nkunyingi observed that appointment of an ambassador could be among the remedies necessary to address the plight of Ugandan nationals in Iran.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jeje Odongo, said the allegations were new to him but pledged to investigate and provide a substantive statement in the course of the week.

He further noted that the gaps in diplomatic representations were not only in Iran but in three other missions including Kenya since the death of Ambassador, Hassan Wasswa Galiwango in January 2023. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

His Majesty King Mohammed VI sent a congratulatory message to the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire’s President, Alassane Dramane Ouattara, on his country’s National Day.

In this message, His Majesty the King extends His congratulations and best wishes for good health and happiness to Ouattara, and prosperity to the Ivorian people.

The Sovereign welcomes the fruitful and diverse cooperation model that the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire have built at the service of both peoples.

“I assure you, in this regard, of My faithful readiness to pursue, with Your Excellency, our resolute commitment to a solid and enduring Morocco-Ivorian partnership and to strengthened inter-African cooperation”, said His Majesty the King.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.

In February 2022, a single case of Wild Polio Virus 1 sent shockwaves in Malawi, a case of a 14-year-old child in Ndirande, Blantyre changing the focus from under 5 routine immunization at birth to children aged 0-15 group as a target to combat the outbreak. The virus was genetically linked to a sequence from Pakistan, detected two years’ prior in Sindh province. Swift action was imperative, and within 24 hours, through decisive leadership, Malawi’s President declared a National Public Health Emergency and response activities commenced immediately.

The response was led by the Ministry of Health and supported by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) and its partners with the goals of bridging immunity gaps and strengthening surveillance to detect, contain, respond and halt any further spread of the virus.

To bridge community immunity, between March 2022 and September 2023, six rounds of door-to-door Polio vaccination campaigns were implemented country-wide targeting children under 5- 15 with progressive improvement in performance in each round.  This was evidenced by the number of districts passing the Lot Quality Assurance Assessment with each round. The successful implementation of each round was due to the commitment of health of workers to leave no child behind.  Door to Door they trekked across hills, traversed long distances, and reached hard-to-reach communities.

“Our aim is to ensure that all children are vaccinated. Apart from practicing hygiene, it is the only effective way to protect our children. Polio has no cure, once it hits there is no turning back. It is therefore everyone’s duty, whether men or women of every to ensure that our children are protected,” Lusungu Gondwe a Health Surveillance Assistant at Chilobwe Health Centre in Blantyre.

According to Minister of Health, Hon Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda their unwavering commitment ensured no child was left unvaccinated. These tireless individuals contributed immensely to the response as confirmed in in her speech at the World Health Assembly, May 2024.

Beyond the campaigns, routine immunization systems were also strengthened to expand reach and access for all. Several outreach sites especially in hard- to- reach and difficult to access terrains were established. Systems were also established to ensure continuity of routine immunization services given the other ongoing emergencies namely Cholera, COVID-19, climate related floods and Cyclones. This included provision of immunization services in internally displaced persons camps, refugee centres and temporary relocation sites.

Strengthening Surveillance

WHO Malawi Country Representative Dr Neema Rusibamayila Kimambo explains that with support from WHO, UNICEF and other GPEI partners, international and local surge staff were deployed at various stages of the response to support gap- filling, knowledge and skill transfer processes in relation to vaccine preventable disease surveillance to bridge human resource gaps at both national and subnational levels.

“To further enhance surveillance, WHO supported the establishment of an environmental surveillance system in Malawi. These sites have been critical in monitoring enterovirus burden within environmental sites using sewage samples. The response involved intensified cross- border collaboration in surveillance given the simultaneous outbreak which was occurring in Mozambique. Through strong inter- governmental collaboration and joint planning key activities such as synchronized campaigns, cross- border surveillance meetings and joint review sessions facilitated enhanced monitoring across borders given that viruses have no geographical barriers” Dr Kimambo explains.

Innovation in Emergency Response

In the fight against polio, innovation played a pivotal role. Increased supervision at the district level improved campaign efficiency was done with the use of real- time and geo mapped electronic monitoring system to ensure accountability, visibility and effective use of data to inform decision making with support from WHO. UNICEF provided support for the use of drones to deliver vaccines to distant areas, bridging geographical gaps.

The World Health Organisation piloted the use of Mobile money digital payment systems for the reimbursement for activity funds for health workers. The use of this platform of mobile money ensured timely payments to health workers, reducing missed transactions, ensuring health workers motivation and satisfaction.

The Assessment and Triumph

In May 2024, an independent Polio Outbreak Response Assessment Team (OBRA) following two in-country assessments and review of key documents declared Malawi and Mozambique as having no evidence of ongoing Wild Polio Virus (Type 1) transmission. Marking the end of the outbreak in the entire African region. The virus had been interrupted. Following this declaration, the government of Malawi received well-deserved recognition at the World Health Assembly.

This success reaffirms a timeless belief: where there’s political will, collaboration, community engagement, multisectoral support, and innovative technology, health outcomes can improve dramatically. Malawi’s triumph over polio stands as a testament to dedication—a beacon of hope for global health.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Malawi.