In a move aimed at avoiding the burial site of a revered traditional leader, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Ltd signed an agreement with the Barabaig community in the village of Gorimba, located in Hanang District. This initiative, part of the company's commitment to respecting Tanzanian traditions and cultures and upholding human rights, comes after a thorough assessment of the project's impact on human rights and the land acquisition process.
Plasduce Mbossa, the Director General of EACOP, stated during a meeting with journalists in Dar es Salaam, "It is now time to construct long berths to accommodate the largest ships that the Dar es Salaam Port cannot handle." The planned construction of the two berths is in the process of seeking a contractor and will be part of the envisioned Bagamoyo Port.
The affected ethnic groups identified in the project include the Maasai, Datoga (Taturu and Barabaig), and Akie communities. EACOP has been engaging with these communities and their traditional leaders for several years as part of its commitment to building capacity, managing the project's impact on land, culture, and traditions, and providing information on the project's implementation while soliciting their feedback.
The company emphasized its ongoing commitment to respecting traditions and ensuring proper management of any potential adverse effects on the cultural heritage of these communities. EACOP has already concluded agreements with affected communities, including the EACOP Tribal Groups Plan, where indigenous groups signed Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) agreements.
The FPIC process is a crucial component of EACOP's commitment to meeting international funding and human rights standards, particularly the International Finance Corporation's Performance Standard 7 on Indigenous Peoples.
This signing marks the second FPIC agreement between the Datoga communities and EACOP, following the signing of the FPIC agreement with the Taturu community in the Mwamayoka Village in March 2023. The FPIC agreement with the Taturu community was overseen by Wendy Brown, the General Manager of EACOP Tanzania, tribal leaders, civil society organizations representing indigenous groups identifying as natives, and local government officials.
Dr. Elifuraha Laltaika, EACOP Advisor on marginalized ethnic groups identifying as natives, emphasized the project's commitment to minimizing adverse impacts through fruitful collaboration. He expressed satisfaction with EACOP's willingness to avoid impacts on significant cultural heritage whenever possible.
Dr. Laltaika highlighted the extensive collaboration that began in 2018 with quarterly meetings between traditional leaders and communities, continuing since 2020. These discussions have deepened the understanding of the project's impact on each community, including the identification of cultural and spiritual areas that may be affected.
EACOP has collaborated with three experienced non-governmental organizations - the Ujamaa Community Resource Team (UCRT), the Pastoralists Indigenous Non-Governmental Organizations Forum (PINGO's Forum), and the Parakuiyo Pastoralists Development Organization (PAICODEO) - to facilitate the implementation of the EACOP plan for marginalized ethnic groups living in challenging environments and identifying as natives. This collaboration aims to engage communities, build capacity regarding project processes and impacts, and address community questions and concerns.
At the signing of the FPIC agreement in Hanang, Nailejileji Tipap, a representative of the PINGO's Forum, praised the EACOP project for protecting the interests of the indigenous people and respecting their culture and traditions. He acknowledged that EACOP and the government have considered the importance of the lifestyle and cultures of the indigenous people during the EACOP project implementation.
Reflecting on the signing of this agreement, a leader from the Barabaig community openly acknowledged that EACOP has demonstrated an understanding of and respect for their culture, especially by altering the route to avoid impacting cultural areas.
The signing of the FPIC agreement with the Barabaig community signifies another step forward for EACOP in its commitment to a responsible and inclusive project implementation, respecting the rights and cultural heritage of the indigenous people.