It has been a year since thousands of Maasai in Ngorongoro staged a historic six-day peaceful protest, blocking the busy Ngorongoro–Serengeti road to demand recognition of their rights on August 18, 2024.

The August 2024 demonstrations highlighted long running grievances, including forced relocation plans, loss of ancestral land, denial of voter registration and withdrawal of basic services like healthcare and education. Protesters carried leaves as a symbol of peace, sang in their language and called for justice.

The action pressured authorities to respond, President Samia Suluhu Hassan later met Maasai representatives in Arusha, formed two commissions to investigate land use and relocation and ordered the restoration of services. The Electoral Commission also reversed its earlier decision to transfer voters from Ngorongoro to Msomera, allowing the community to participate in the 2024 local elections and the upcoming 2025 general election. In spite of the progress, ongoing challenges remain from ranger harassment and grazing restrictions to the destruction of water points and selective social service blockades throughout 2025.

The Maasai say their struggle is far from over. “We are ready for dialogue, but the government must respect our rights like all citizens,” community leaders noted in a statement marking the anniversary.