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LITIGATING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ RIGHTS IN AFRICA: POTENTIALS, CHALLENGES AND LIMITATIONS

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 June 2017

Jérémie Gilbert
Jérémie Gilbert*
Affiliation:
Professor of Human Rights Law, University of Roehampton, jeremie.gilbert@roehampton.ac.uk.
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Abstract

Adopting a comparative analysis, this article examines some recent litigation which has focused on indigenous peoples’ rights across the African continent. The aim is to explore both the potential and the challenges and limitations of litigation as a tool for supporting the rights of indigenous peoples. The article explores the extent to which a specific African jurisprudence is emerging on issues that are essential to indigenous peoples such as non-discrimination, self-identification, land rights and development. It also focuses on the practical issues that arise when engaging with litigation in order to explore the extent to which litigation can contribute to the legal empowerment of some of the most marginalized indigenous communities in Africa.

Keywords

Africadevelopmentindigenous peoplesland rightslegal empowermentlitigation
Type
Articles
Information
International & Comparative Law Quarterly , Volume 66 , Issue 3 , July 2017 , pp. 657 - 686
Copyright
Copyright © British Institute of International and Comparative Law 2017 

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References

1 See International Work Group on Indigenous Affairs, at <http://www.iwgia.org/regions/africa>.

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12 Roy Sesana (First Applicant), Keiwa Setlhobogwa and 241 others, (Second and Further Applicants) v the Attorney General of the Republic of Botswana, High Court of Botswana (2006); and Matsipane Mosetlhanyene (First Appellant) and Gakenyatsiwe Matsipane (Second Appellant) v the Attorney General (Respondent), High Court of Botswana (27 January 2011).

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23 Botswana was one of the governments which derailed the process for the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2006.

24 CCJ 2006, Bundle 1A 104 (ExP32)—Letter from Minister Margaret Nasha to Ditshwanelo, dated 7 January 2002—as quoted in Sapignoli, M, ‘Dispossession in the Age of Humanity: Human Rights, Citizenship, and Indigeneity in the Central Kalahari’ (2015) 25(3) Anthropological Forum 285Google Scholar.

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29 Hitchcock, Sapignoli and Babchuk (n 21) 63.

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37 African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Report of the African Commission's Working Group of Experts on Indigenous Populations Communities, submitted in accordance with the ‘Resolution on the Rights of Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa’, adopted by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights at its 28th ordinary session (2005) 92–3.

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44 See Chan, TM, ‘The Richtersveld Challenge: South Africa Finally Adopts Aboriginal Title’ in Indigenous Peoples Rights in Southern Africa’ in Hitchcock, R and Vinding, D (eds), Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in Southern Africa (International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs 2004) 114–30Google Scholar.

45 The Ritchersveld Community and Others v Alexkor Ltd and the Government of South Africa, Case No 488/2001, para 8 (24 March 2003).

46 ibid, para 8.

47 ibid, para 9.

48 ibid, para 27.

49 Alexkor Limited and the Government of South Africa v The Ritchersveld Community and Others, Case CCT 19/03, at 51 (14 October 2003).

50 Statement from Judge Phumpahi, Central Kalahari Legal Case No MISCA 52/2002 in the Matter between Roy Sesana, First Applicant, Keiwa Setlhobogwa and 241 others, Second and Further Applicants, and the Attorney General High Court of Botswana (2006).

51 More recently in 2014, five residents have lodged a new claim for the recognition of their right to hunt within the reserve, as without the possibility to hunt life in the reserve is impossible.

52 Final working paper prepared by the Special Rapporteur, Mrs E-I A Daes, ‘Indigenous Peoples and Their Relationship to Land’ UN Doc E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/21 (2001) at 38.

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56 See Human Rights Committee: Ivan Kitok v Sweden, Comm No 197/1985, Report of the Human Rights Committee, GAOR, 43th Sess, Supp No 40 (A/43/40); Lubicon Lake Band v Canada, Comm No 167/1984 (26 March 1990), UN Doc Supp No 40 (A/45/40) at 1 (1990); Hopu and Bessert v France, Comm No 549/1993, UN Doc CPR/C/60/D/549/1993/Rev.1 (29 December 1997).

57 See M Sapignoli and R Hitchcock, People, Parks, and Power: The Ethics of Conservation-Related Resettlement (forthcoming).

58 See Blaser, M, Feit, HA and McRae, G (eds), In the Way of Development: Indigenous Peoples, Life Projects and Globalization (Zed/IDRC 2004)Google Scholar.

59 Also worth noting that even though mining was not put forward as a ground for relocation, there is now a diamond mine in the southeast of the reserve, a planned copper–silver mine in the northwest, and several mining prospects pending elsewhere.

60 Centre for Minority Rights Development (Kenya) and Minority Rights Group International on behalf of Endorois Welfare Council v Kenya Comm No 276/2003 (2010).

61 ibid, para 178.

62 ibid, para 270.

63 ibid, para 135.

64 ibid, para 129.

65 ibid, para 129.

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69 See ‘MRG Deeply Disappointed by Arusha Court Land Rights Judgment against Loliondo Maasai’ at <http://minorityrights.org/2015/10/28/mrg-deeply-disappointed-by-arusha-court-land-rights-judgment-against-loliondo-maasai/>.

70 See <http://www.earthrights.org/media/maasai-villagers-turn-us-courts-information-abusive-evictions-us-safari-company>.

71 See eg ‘The Batwa Declaration to the Government of the Republic of Uganda on Securing their Land Rights’ at Kisoro 2009, available at <https://uobdu.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/declaration-signed.pdf>.

72 See D Jackson, ‘Implementation of International Commitments on Traditional Forest-Related Knowledge: Indigenous Peoples’ Experiences in Central Africa (Forest Peoples Programme 2004).

73 For references, see the Constitution of the organization available at <https://uobdu.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/uobdu-constitution-dec-09.pdf>.

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76 The lack of funding means that now the organization First People of the Kalahari which was set up to support the court action has run out of money and closed down.

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80 See Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa, Mission to the Republic of Botswana, 15–23 June 2005. Available at <http://www.achpr.org/states/botswana/missions/indigenous-2005/>.

81 See African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Concluding Observations and Recommendations on the Initial Periodic Report of the Republic of Botswana, Forty-Seventh Ordinary Session, 12–26 May 2010. Available at <http://www.achpr.org/files/sessions/47th/conc-obs/1st-1966-2007/achpr47_conc_staterep1_botswana_2010_eng.pdf>.

82 Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous People, The Situation of Indigenous Peoples in Botswana, UN Doc A/HRC/15/37/Add.2 (June 2010).

83 See Solway, J, ‘Human Rights and NGO ‘‘Wrongs’’: Conflict Diamonds, Culture Wars, and the ‘‘Bushman Question’’’ (2009) 79(3) Africa 329Google Scholar; Saugestad, S, ‘Impact of International Mechanisms on Indigenous Rights in Botswana’ (2011) 15(1) IJHR 37Google Scholar.

84 Saugestad (n 83) 56.

85 ibid 44.

86 Centre for Minority Rights Development (Kenya) and Minority Rights Group International on behalf of Endorois Welfare Council v Kenya (n 9).

87 For illustrations, see S Herencia Carrasco, ‘Public Interest Litigation in the Inter-American Court of Human Rights: The Protection of Indigenous Peoples and the Gap between Legal Victories and Social Change’ (2015) Special Edition Revue Québécoise de Droit International 199. See also J Gilbert, Strategic Litigation Impacts on Indigenous Peoples’ Land Rights (Open Society, Justice Initiative 2017).

88 See Marlin, R, ‘“The Endorois Decision” – Four years on, the Endorois Still Await Action by the Government of Kenya’ (Minority Rights Group 2014)Google Scholar.”

89 On the task force: <https://www.escr-net.org/news/2014/first-meeting-kenyan-task-force-implementation-endorois-decision>.

90 Sapignoli, M, ‘Dispossession in the Age of Humanity: Human Rights, Citizenship, and Indigeneity in the Central Kalahari’ (2015) 25(3) Anthropological Forum 18Google Scholar (references omitted).