The Chairperson of the Cameroon Human Rights Commission (CHRC) and President of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI), Professor James Mouangue Kobila, alongside the President of the Alliance for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities for Conservation in Africa (AICA), Mr Malidadi Berlings Langa, successfully concluded the AICA General Assembly, which took place from 26 to 31 May 2026 at the Mont Fébé Hotel in Yaoundé.

The week-long gathering provided a platform for participants to examine sustainable solutions to the environmental challenges affecting African forests and the livelihoods of indigenous peoples and local communities across the continent.

The event brought together representatives of indigenous peoples and local communities from several African countries, conservation stakeholders, civil society actors and institutional partners. Also present were officials of the Cameroon Human Rights Commission, led by its Chairperson, Professor James Mouangue Kobila.

Speaking to the press during the opening ceremony the General Assembly, the President of the Alliance for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities for Conservation in Africa (AICA), Mr Malidadi Berlings Langa, stated that “one of the organisation’s key objectives is to create an African platform through which indigenous peoples and local communities can collectively advocate for issues affecting them in conservation and sustainable resource management.”

Throughout the General Assembly, delegates highlighted numerous challenges confronting their communities. These included marginalisation, limited access to basic social services, competition over natural resources, land-related concerns, and the growing impact of environmental degradation and climate change on indigenous populations.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, the Chairperson of NANHRI, Professor James Mouangue Kobila, emphasised the importance of not losing sight of the fact that the protection of indigenous peoples is not limited to preserving their land rights, but encompasses all the rights enshrined in the 2007 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including the right to political participation, as well as economic, social and cultural rights.

He reaffirmed that the dignity, rights and aspirations of indigenous communities must be fully taken into account in national and regional development policies.

Participants from Guinea-Bissau used the opportunity to draw attention to the educational challenges facing their communities and appealed for greater support from AICA and its partners to improve access to education for indigenous children and youth.

Beyond serving as a forum for dialogue and advocacy, the 2026 AICA General Assembly featured youth training sessions, capacity-building workshops and strategic exchanges aimed at strengthening community participation in conservation efforts.

The meeting concluded with renewed calls for collaborative action to ensure that environmental conservation initiatives in Africa remain inclusive, sustainable and respectful of the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities.