African Commission Upholds Indigenous Batwa Rights in Democratic Republic of the Congo
In the 1970s, the indigenous Batwa community in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was forcibly expelled from its ancestral lands to make way for the creation of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park (PNKB). In 2018, as some Batwa attempted to return to their land, they were again forcibly expelled by Congolese soldiers and park authorities, which resulted in forced displacement, rape, and even death.
Minority Rights Group (MRG) and Environnement, Resources Naturelles et Developpement (ERND) brought a case on behalf of the Batwa community to the African Commission, after they were denied redress in the DRC’s domestic legal system. The recent decision of the African Commission in the case holds that the eviction of the Batwa community was a violation of their rights by the government of the DRC, recognizes that the Batwa are the best guardians of biodiversity, and calls for their return to their land.
Batwa community member, Joséphine M’Cibalida, stated: ‘While we were hunting, state agents invaded our community and burned down our homes, leaving us homeless and destitute. We lost everything, including our dignity as human beings. This ruling brings us hope that we will receive justice for the harm done to us.’
The Commission recommends, among other things, that the Batwa are legally recognized as full citizens of the DRC, that compensation is paid to them, and that they are given title to their ancestral lands.
More information about the case can be found on the website of MRG.
