ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire- Leaders, policymakers, and animal health experts from across Africa convened in Abidjan on Thursday for the Second Pan-African Donkey Conference, a high-level summit organized by the African Union’s Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) to confront the growing threat to one of the continent’s most undervalued yet essential animals- the donkey.
Held under the shadow of the expanding and largely unregulated donkey skin trade, the meeting highlighted Africa’s urgent need to act before an already vulnerable donkey population collapses.
AU-IBAR used the forum to unveil the Pan-African Donkey Strategy, a comprehensive blueprint that seeks to preserve donkey populations and integrate donkey welfare into national development agendas.
The strategy is set to be validated on Friday at the close of the 2-day conference, a critical step before it is forwarded to the African Union’s technical committee and, ultimately, to the Heads of State for endorsement.
“Donkeys are Africa’s invisible workforce—quietly supporting millions of rural livelihoods. But they continue to be excluded from policies, veterinary services, and investment plans,” said Elynn Njeri of AU-IBAR.
“We are calling for a continental ban on the skin trade before we lose this critical species to greed.”
African Leaders Unite in Abidjan to Protect Donkeys, Validate Landmark Strategy for Their Preservation @au_ibar ynews.digital/newsflash/afri…
According to AU-IBAR research presented at the conference, donkeys are facing simultaneous threats: disease, neglect, and large-scale exploitation driven by international demand—particularly from China, where donkey hides are used to produce “ejiao,” a gelatin ingredient in traditional medicine.
The demand has led to widespread smuggling, illegal slaughter, and population declines across Africa.
Diseases such as anthrax, tetanus, African horse sickness, and equine influenza are common, and often go untreated due to the absence of coordinated veterinary services for donkeys.
Chronic wounds from poor handling and overloaded work conditions are also prevalent, largely because donkey owners lack proper training, equipment, and support.
Most beneficiaries are women and children, making this crisis not only about animal welfare, but also about livelihoods, gender equity, and poverty.
The Pan-African Donkey Strategy, developed through a collaborative process involving AU member states, regional blocs, the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and international animal welfare groups, aims to address these intersecting challenges.
It seeks to secure strong political and financial commitment from African governments to ban the slaughter of donkeys for the skin trade, while promoting better inclusion of donkeys in national livestock policies, strategies, and investment plans.
The strategy calls for the strengthening of monitoring systems and data collection efforts to ensure donkeys are fully accounted for in national livestock censuses.
It emphasizes the need for improved veterinary care, humane husbandry practices, and integration of donkeys into One Health frameworks to ensure their welfare throughout their lifespan—including ethical end-of-life management.
Additionally, the strategy highlights the need to develop sustainable donkey value chains supported by evidence-based breeding programs, while encouraging regional and international collaboration for advocacy, resource mobilization, and implementation.
It is also designed to promote coordinated action among African countries to align policies and invest in protecting both donkeys and the communities that depend on them.
AU-IBAR hopes the strategy will soon be validated at technical levels and subsequently endorsed by African Ministers and Heads of State.
Once adopted, Njeri said it will serve as a guiding framework for countries and regions alike as they develop tailored action plans.
While several nations have already taken bold steps to ban the trade, AU-IBAR is pushing for a harmonized continental position to eliminate loopholes that allow cross-border smuggling to thrive.
“We want to give countries a clear blueprint,” said Njeri. “The lack of consistency has created gaps that smugglers exploit. A continental ban backed by coordinated implementation is the only way forward.”
