Democratic Republic of Congo ordered to return land to Indigenous Batwa

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has ordered the Democratic Republic of Congo to return ancestral lands to the Indigenous Batwa people, who were forcibly evicted for a national park.

Katie Surma reports for Inside Climate News.

In short:

• The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights found the DRC violated Batwa rights by evicting them from their ancestral lands without consent.
• The DRC must provide legal title to the Batwa and address further grievances including financial compensation and formal recognition of citizenship.
• The decision highlights the flaws of “fortress conservation,” which displaces Indigenous communities to protect biodiversity.

Key quote:

“If you want to protect the Congo Basin, it’s not going to be with government agencies that are close to big business.”

— Joshua Castellino, executive director at Minority Rights Group International

Why this matters:

Forced evictions of Indigenous people undermine both human rights and environmental conservation. Secure land rights for Indigenous communities often result in better preservation of ecosystems.

Related EHN coverage:

• Colonialism, the climate crisis, and the need to center Indigenous voices
• Beyond coffee and condos: Black and brown families displaced and erased
• Maasai livelihoods at stake as conservation efforts expand in Tanzania