Which Peoples Are Under Threat In Africa?

Africa
Which peoples are under threat in Africa?
This is not an exhaustive list but aims to give an overview.
Sudan: Fur, Zaghawa, Massalit in Darfur; Dinka, Nuer in South; and Nuba, Beja
Somalia: Issaq, Darood (Puntland), Bantu
Democratic Republic of Congo: Hema and Lendu, Hunde, Hutu, Luba, Lunda, Tutsi/Banyamulenge, Twa/Mbuti
Nigeria: Ibo, Ijaw, Ogoni, Yoruba; Hausa (Muslims) and Christians in the North
Burundi: Hutu, Tutsi, Twa
Angola: Bakongo, Cabindans, Ovimbundu
Côte d'Ivoire: Northern Mandé (Dioula), Senoufo, Bete
Uganda: Acholi, Karamajong
Ethiopia: Anuak, Afars, Oromo, Somalis
Most at risk in Africa on the 'People under Threat' Table for 2006
Sudanese: In Darfur chronic marginalization of Fur, Zaghawa and Massalit led to open warfare in 2003. Janjaweed militia (mainly of Arab descent) have continued to engage in aerial bombardment, attacks and scorched earth campaigns, leading to massive internal displacement, indiscriminate killings, looting and mass rape. The government denies having connections to the Janjaweed. There is a strong political dimension to the conflict as well as fierce economic competition between pastoralists (generally Arab) and farmers (generally Non-Arab) for land and water. 2 million people in the region are estimated to be living in camps.
Spotlight on African countries' minorities
West Africa: Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria Côte d'Ivoire has been divided between Northern rebels and the Southern National Army since conflict broke out in 2002. Heavy UN presence followed and despite some progress October 2005 elections had to be postponed. Numerous militias are still to be dismantled. In Nigeria the Ogoni people continue to be excluded from the profits of oil production on the Niger Delta. In 2005 thousands of Ogoni and other minority groups were evicted to make way for the expansion of a private oil company.
Central Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola: A five-year conflict in the DRC pitted government forces, against rebels backed by Uganda and Rwanda but despite a peace deal and the formation of a transitional government in 2003, the threat of civil war remains. Banyamulenge who fled the conflict have been targeted by Hutu rebels in Burundi and Twa continue to be severely marginalized. There is fierce competition for natural resources, split along ethnic lines. In Angola Cabindans live in poverty despite huge oil reserves in Cabinda and are exploited by the government and foreign oil companies. Conflict between Cabindan separatists and the government is preventing the return of refugees that fled to DRC and Congo following the end of Angola's 27-year civil war.
Eastern Africa/Horn of Africa: Uganda, Ethiopia : The Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army, which is engaged in armed rebellion against the Ugandan government has committed mass human rights violations including abductions that have tended to target the Acholi people, as the insurgency is strongest in Acholiland. Around 2 million civilians have been forced to live in IDP camps and are now facing severe shortages. Ethiopia's elections in May 2005 were highly contested by opposition groups. Oromo in the South of Ethiopia face marginalisation by the government and insurgencies of Oromo groups are frequent. Anuak peoples are also the targets of the government and the Ethiopian army who have committed human rights abuses against them and other inhabitants of the resource rich Gambella region.
For more information please contact ilana.rapaport@mrgmail.org +44 (0)20 7422 4205

Source: Minority Rights International