Hope for Africa’s donkeys as Ministers rally against skin trade

Last week, the Abidjan Declaration was made at the Pan-African Donkey Conference in Cote D’Ivoire (26/27 June), where we presented stark new evidence about the devastating impact of the trade on Africa’s women and children in our latest report Stolen Donkeys, Stolen Futures. 

The Declaration reaffirms African leaders’ commitment to the African Union’s 2024 decision to impose a ban on the slaughter of donkeys for their skin and develop a continent-wide strategy for their welfare.

A new strategy 

With the declaration, African Ministers are giving their support to a Pan-African donkey strategy, developed by the AU’s Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) with input from The Donkey Sanctuary and other members of the International Coalition for Working Equids (ICWE).  

The strategy aims to ‘protect the donkey, promote its welfare and sustainable utilization in Africa, hence safeguarding its populations and the vulnerable communities that rely on them’. 

In addition to this, the declaration requests leaders to take action by refusing to issue new licenses for donkey slaughterhouses and to revoke and suspend all existing licenses as well as embrace cross-border collaboration to strengthen surveillance of ports and borders used for donkey smuggling.  

Protecting donkeys and livelihoods 

At least 5.9 million donkeys are slaughtered for their skin every year to make ejiao, a traditional Chinese medicine made from donkey gelatine.  

Escalating demand has led to the collapse of China’s own donkey population, leading the industry to exploit Africa’s donkeys and the communities who rely on them.  

During the conference, we revealed new evidence about the devastating impact China’s demand for donkey skins is having on Africa’s women and children in our latest report. 

The report includes a series of recommendations and a call to action for governments in Africa and around the world to take decisive steps to end this human and animal welfare disaster.  

This powerful declaration by African leaders marks a significant milestone in our long-running campaign to Stop the Slaughter and is a major step forward for donkeys and the livelihoods of the communities that rely on them. 

Niall Duffy, our Executive Director of Policy and Profile, who spoke at the closing ceremony, said: “Our latest report reveals the donkey skin trade’s devastating impact, not just on donkeys but on the women and children who rely on them most. And yet there is hope. Nation after nation at the conference in Abidjan spoke of their resolve to stop the donkey skin trade. 

“The Abidjan Declaration is not simply a reaffirmation of the African Union’s 2024 commitment to ban the trade, it is a deep commitment from the member states present, giving direction and momentum to further discussions with all member states to protect a precious resource and create a better world for donkeys.” 

Otieno Mtula, our Regional Campaigns Manager in Africa, said: “The Donkey Sanctuary has been part of the technical working group behind PADCo and the development of the Pan African donkey strategy. 

“Our efforts have been rewarded with powerful recommendations that set clear instructions for an Africa-wide donkey strategy. Once agreed by the African Union’s Specialized Technical Committee of Ministers, this will go to the Heads of State in February next year for final endorsement.”