Mapping Shared Territories: A Collaborative Journey in the Republic of Congo

The Context

The Republic of Congo, like many regions in Central Africa, is home to diverse ethnic groups. For thousands of years, indigenous peoples such as the Baka, Mbendjélé, Mikaya, Gyeli, Babongo, Luma, and Twa have inhabited the forests of the Republic of Congo. Around 4000-5000 years ago, Bantu groups migrated into the region, establishing kingdoms, clans, chiefdoms, and villages. Traditionally, indigenous peoples are semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers with a deep connection to the forest, while local communities of the large Bantu ethnolinguistic group rely more on agriculture, as well as using some of the forest resources.

During the colonial period, wider-scale exploitation of natural resources often led to the dispossession of indigenous lands, allocated as concessions to private actors. This practice continued after independence in 1960, with the government granting concessions for agriculture, forestry, mining, and petroleum, primarily to foreign companies, further marginalizing indigenous populations. In parallel with the encroachment of economic activities, their forced sedentarisation as part of a post-independence government consolidation process has further disrupted traditional lifestyles and land use, leading to complex dynamics of shared territories and resource use. In practice, living in 'mixed communities’, indigenous peoples can face entrenched discrimination and unequal power relations. They are often pushed to marginal lands, excluded from decisions on territory and resources, and denied fair access to justice and public services - all eroding their agency over their livelihoods and their own futures.

The current national land tenure system recognizes both state land rights and the customary land rights of indigenous peoples and local communities. The Law 05-2011 on the promotion and protection of the rights of Indigenous Peoples, enacted on February 25^th 2011, acknowledges the pre-existing customary land rights of indigenous peoples. Despite this recognition however, Law 5-2011 does not provide mechanisms for reparations for historically dispossessed lands, nor does it override sectoral regimes (forestry, mining and conservation). It also fails to regulate cohabitation in shared territories with neighbouring local communities. There are no procedures for joint delimitation, layered or overlapping tenure systems, shared governance, or dispute resolution, which leaves any decision-making in the hands of statutory authorities and entrenches power asymmetries on the ground. 

In response to these issues, the Congolese government began drafting a decree in 2024 to facilitate the demarcation and securing of indigenous lands. A draft of this decree is currently under consultation with stakeholders, including indigenous peoples, with finalisation scheduled for the end of 2025. Civil society organizations, such as CECD and FPP, are actively involved in ensuring the decree addresses the realities faced by indigenous peoples, particularly the cohabitation with local communities marked by discrimination and unequal power dynamics. These dynamics highlight the urgency for the draft decree on Indigenous land rights to move beyond symbolic recognition: Indigenous peoples’ lived realities in the country must translate into the decree’s text. Indeed, without explicit safeguards – such as recognition of Indigenous decision-making structures, requirements for co-governance in shared territories, and measures to combat discrimination – Indigenous peoples will remain marginalised, even when their rights are formally acknowledged.

To inform these urgent decisions, CECD and FPP are working on a new differential mapping project with a village in the North of the Republic of Congo, where territory is shared between indigenous Baka and local Bakwele. 

The Project's Objectives

Differential mapping is an experimental approach designed to understand and describe the cohabitation dynamics between indigenous peoples and local communities. The primary goal of this project is to map the disaggregated territorial use of Baka and Bakwele communities, providing a visual and data-driven representation of how each group interacts with their shared environment. This mapping exercise is not just about documenting land use; it's about empowering these communities to advocate for their rights and inform policy decisions that affect their lives and livelihoods.

Key objectives include:

1. Understanding Land Use: By documenting how each community uses the land, the project aims to highlight the unique and overlapping ways in which Baka and Bakwele interact with their environment.
2. Informing Governance: The data collected will inform ongoing conversations about shared governance and legal proposals to secure indigenous land rights, particularly in the context of the 2011 Indigenous Peoples Law in the Republic of Congo.
3. Empowering Communities: Through participatory mapping and the use of technology like Mapeo, community members are trained to collect and manage data, fostering a sense of ownership and control over their territorial information.

Methodology

The project employs a mixed-method approach, combining behavioural and spatial mapping with active community feedback. This involves:

• Sketch Mapping: Community members draw maps of their territories, identifying key areas and resources. This process is split between different subgroups, such as men and women, to capture diverse perspectives.
• Field Data Collection: Using smartphones equipped with Awana Digital’s Mapeo app, community members collect georeferenced data on their daily activities, significant sites, and resource use. This data is then used to create detailed maps reflecting seasonal changes and usage patterns.
• Community Feedback: Regular meetings and feedback sessions ensure that the mapping process is collaborative and reflective of the communities' needs and insights.

Challenges and early Observations

The journey is not without its challenges. Technical issues, such as the difficulty of charging devices in remote areas, and social dynamics, including differing levels of enthusiasm and participation between Baka and Bakwele, have required adaptive strategies and continuous support.

One notable early observation is the difference in how each community perceives territory. Baka, with their traditional nomadic lifestyle, view the forest as an open space without strict boundaries. While more frequent activities stay within walking distance of their individual dwellings, seasonal expeditions spanning several weeks in the forest can take them across their own village administrative boundary lines and across neighbouring territories. In contrast, Bakwele have a more defined sense of territorial limits, influenced by their agricultural practices and settled lifestyle.

Gender dynamics also play a significant role. Women's activities, such as gathering and fishing, often do not extend as far as men's hunting grounds. Bakwele women report not wanting to venture too far from the village without being accompanied by men, due to the presence of elephants in the area. 

In terms of the project itself and the use of technology, early training sessions were the first time many indigenous community members had ever held a phone. Over the first half of the mapping data collection period (October 2024 to May 2025) however, the level of skill in the community has grown exponentially with self-directed practice. Baka women in particular have shown remarkable adaptability and enthusiasm in using technology to document their daily land use, reflecting a broader trend of increasing comfort and proficiency with the tools provided.

Looking Ahead

As the project progresses, the hope is that the detailed maps and data collected will not only inform local governance and legal frameworks but also serve as a model for similar initiatives across the Congo Basin. By empowering indigenous and local communities to lead the documentation process of their own land uses and relationships, in order to assert their land rights, this project aims to contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future for all who call these forests home.

Through collaboration, technology, and a deep respect for traditional knowledge, these Baka and Bakwele communities are helping pave the way for a new era of land rights and shared governance in the Republic of Congo.