A/HRC/25/56/Add.1
secure their essential land rights.
The Mbororo frequently face conflicts over access to and ownership of land.
Although the Government encourages sedentary lifestyles, some Mbororo wish to continue
their traditional nomadic way of life. The Government should accommodate such wishes
where possible and seek solutions to land disputes and problems of delivery of education
and health care, for example, in consultation with communities. Corruption and
manipulation of land laws must not be allowed to continue with impunity. Pygmy
communities face severe challenges relating to their removal from forests and the loss of
their hunter-gatherer lifestyle. They are poorly equipped to manage away from ancestral
forest habitats and commonly face poverty and exploitation.
The decline in use of some of the country’s many mother-tongue languages is cause
for concern, and initiatives to record and maintain these languages alongside French and
English are welcome. The North-West and the South-West are anglophone regions. While a
national bilingual language policy is a positive practice, anglophone representatives
expressed frustration at alleged discrimination in such areas as access to employment and
political posts. While freedom of religion and harmonious coexistence of religious groups
are generally evident, Pentecostal church leaders complained about the closure of some
churches and about discriminatory registration processes. The Independent Expert called
for clearer criteria and time frames to be established and respected, adding that legitimate
Churches should not be punished for the illegal actions of some individuals or groups.
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