Report of the African Commission's Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities. Research and Information Visit to the Central African Republic, 15 - 28 January 2007

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has established a Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities that undertook a research and information visit to the Central African Republic in January 2007. The report was adopted by the African Commission on Human and People's Rights at its 43rd Ordinary Session, 7-22 May 2008. The report gives an account of meetings held with government authorities, civil society organizations, indigenous communities and other stakeholders, it describes the situation of the indigenous populations in the Central African Republic and it makes recommendations to the Government, civil society organizations and the international community. The report is published both in English and French. There are two key groups of indigenous peoples in the Central African Republic, namely the Aka (who are part of the larger group of ‘Pygmies’) and the Mbororo. The Aka are a group of hunter-gatherers from the tropical forests of central Africa, whilst the Mbororo are nomadic pastoralists who also live in other countries in west and central Africa. This report has five key sections: the socio-political context of the Central African Republic, the existing legal framework, a summary of meetings held during the visit, important thematic issues and, finally, the conclusion and recommendations.