African leaders commit to a strategy to protect the continent’s donkeys from the brutal skin trade

The safeguarding of Africa’s 40million-strong donkey population has taken a significant step forward following the conclusion of The Pan African Donkey Conference (PADCo) which took place in Côte d’Ivoire on 26-27 June 2025.  

Attended by African Member State leaders and key policy decision makers, the two-day event provided a platform for delegates to reaffirm their commitment to enforcing the implementation of Africa’s moratorium on the donkey skin trade – a practice that sees millions of donkeys slaughtered for their skins to support the demand for ejiao, a traditional Chinese medicine product.  

The conference culminated with the formal endorsement of the Abidjan Declaration to preserve Africa’s donkeys and uphold the continental moratorium.  

Supporting the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) convening of the conference, members of the International Coalition for Working Equids (ICWE) welcomed the strong reaffirmation by the African Union of their commitment to end the unsustainable slaughter of donkeys for skins.

Jessica Stark, Director of Communications and Public Affairs at World Horse Welfare and Chair of ICWE said:

“We wholeheartedly welcome the declaration of African Member States and stand with them in their unified and practical commitment to ensure the moratorium is fully implemented within their borders. At PADCo 2 we have heard heartbreaking evidence from across the continent how the unsustainable trade in donkey skins is having a devastating effect on whole communities, including women and children.

“We support the inclusion of clear national-level implementation measures, regular reporting, and the recognition of donkeys as vital to livelihoods and rural economies. These decisions mark an important step toward ending the unsustainable trade and improving donkey welfare across the continent.”

Comprised of Brooke: Action for Working Horses and Donkeys, The Donkey Sanctuary, SPANA and World Horse Welfare, ICWE recognises that as well as a severe threat to donkey welfare, the trade significantly impacts the livelihoods of those who rely on them. Collectively, the working equid welfare charities support the measures laid out by the African Union countries, including the endorsement of the Pan-African Strategy for Donkey Preservation (2026-2035) and the call for national implementation with national policy alignment to support the strategy and the establishment of systems for monitoring and reporting.

Speaking at the conference on behalf of ICWE CEOs, Chris Wainwright, CEO of Brooke said:

“I am confident that this strategy will create the required momentum for the implementation of the ban and with it the ultimate preservation and development of the donkey species. The International Coalition for Working Equids is proud to be a partner, funder and co-organiser of this conference. 

“If we all work together, we can end the trade in donkey skins and protect these loyal and magnificent creatures that are central to the socio-economic futures of so many communities in Africa.”