In April 2007, the Executive Committee of IPACC re-established a Region which includes the Horn of Africa as well as east Sahelian countries. This effort was made in recognition of the growing organisation of pastoralist communities in this arid territory. IPACC notes in particular the influential role of MBOSCUDA, the national Cameroonian organisation of Mbororo pastoralists.
Indigenous peoples in the eastern Sahel include pastoralist Mbororo (also called Wodaabe, Peul, Fulani), Tubu, Tuareg, nomadic and fishing Kanuri and related peoples. IN CAR and Cameroon there are forest based Aka, Baka, Babendjelle indigenous peoples.
Sudan and Ethiopia, indigenous peoples include honey gathering forest peoples, such as the Manjo, those using traditional methods of horticulture including Dinka and Nuer, as well as nomadic pastoralists, including Afar, Karamajong, Boranna and other communities.
Regional Review
Mbororo pastoralists express their concern about the rising tide of conflict in the Central African Republic which is displacing pastoralists. The lives of people and cattle are greatly at risk and forcing people across the border into Chad. Chad also remains fragile with conflict on several borders and a surge in small and medium armaments
Delegates at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues expressed their serious concern about the situation of Lake Chad. Due to climate changes and building of dams in Cameroon, Lake Chad is rapidly shrinking. This has a negative and potentially life threatening impact on traditional fisher people and pastoralists.
Mbororo pastoralists from both Chad and Cameroon expressed their concern about the ongoing bias against transhumance. When Mbororo people move their cattle around the region to help protect biological diversity, they are then told that their land has been allocated for poor farmers. Herders are often fined for bringing cattle through traditional transhumance zones.
Mboscuda has run a programme to educate indigenous peoples about the legal and constitutional rights. This has proved useful in rural courts where police and magistrates are also not well trainined in national laws and human rights. Pastoralists benefit from para-legal support to defend their rights and reduce corruption and human rights abuses.
Updates 2007
Mrs Fadematou Dahirou of Mboscuda was coopted by IPACC as the Regional Representative of the new Sahel-Horn Region;
Ethiopian NGO, MELCA worked with IPACC to host a training on human rights a nd the UN Declaration from 30 March to 4 April for indigenous leaders in East Africa and the Horn. 15 delegates from Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia attended the training which focussed on understanding UN and African human rights mechanisms and standards. The group also role played promoting dialogue with governments and other influential stakeholders. The event was funded by the Christian Fund;
Mboscuda is active in the process of the CBD Expert Committe on Article 8J.
Babagana Aboubakr is the first Kanuri delegate to attend the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. The Kanuri of north-east Nigeria live from fishing, nomadic pastoralism and drylands agriculture;
Hindou Oumaruu Ibrahim, an Mbororo activist from Chad helped coordinate African indigenous women's input at the 6th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. The IPACC Executive Committee coopted Ms Oumaru Ibrahim to help serve on the ExCo for the new Sahel-Horn Region of Africa.
Breaking News
- 21 Jul 2008 -
UN Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations 2009 Applications Forms Now Available
The 2009 application forms for the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations are now available. The fund provides financial assistance to indigenous delegates who wish to attend the 2nd ...
New UN Expert Mechanism on the Right of Indigenous People
In September 2007 the Human Rights Council accepted, in its resolution 6/16, to organize an informal meeting, which took place in Geneva on 6-7 December 2007, with the purpose of “exchanging views on ...
IPACC pan African workshop on ICT / GIT, traditional knowledge and advocacy
IPACC Executive Committee members will be gathering outside Windhoek, Namibia from 26 - 29 August 2008 for a workshop on how information communication technology and geospatial information technology ...
IPACC's Executive Committee will hold a two day meeting in Windhoek Namibia, immediately following the GIT workshop. The ExCo will be following up on previous organisational development workshop, sett ...
