Updates from the task forces outfitted to tackle and combat illegal transcontinental maritime wildlife trade between Asia and Africa may be tabled in Arusha this May, during the 14th Governing Council Meeting of Parties to the Lusaka Agreement.
This is the second time in recent years that Tanzania hosts a Lusaka Agreement Taskforce meeting.
Two years ago, a team of more than 25 personnel underwent training sessions in Tanzania, with the aim of reducing or totally eradicating maritime trafficking of wildlife between Africa and Asia.
Tanzania is one of the seven African states partaking in the Lusaka Agreement, which also includes Kenya, Uganda, Lesotho, Liberia, Zambia, and Congo Brazzaville.
It has been discovered that illegal wildlife trade is among the five most lucrative illegal trades globally and estimated to be worth up to USD 23 billion annually, and counting.
Wild animal species that currently fuel the illegal trade include Pangolins, Snakes, Turtles, Tortoises, Chameleons and various bird species, in addition to various types of plants being smuggled out of the country, or the African continent, for mostly Asian markets.
Traffickers use legitimate transport, logistics services and commercial trade routes to illegally move wildlife and their products from source to consumer countries.
Most illegal wildlife goods (70-90 percent by volume) are trafficked by sea, in containerized cargo due to minimal risk of interception and arrest.
And now Tanzania gets to host the Governing Council Meeting of Parties in the Northern City of Arusha, according to a statement from the Secretariat of Lusaka Agreement on Cooperative Enforcement Operations Directed at Illegal Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora.
Pursuant to Rule 13 of the Rules of Procedure for meetings of the Lusaka Agreement Governing Council, the 14th Governing Council Meeting of Parties to the Lusaka Agreement takes place in Arusha City from 5th– 8th May 2025 in Arusha, Tanzania.
Further, as stipulated in Rules 5, 18 and 19, the meeting will be open to Parties, all African States, the United Nations and its specialized agencies and any states non-party to the Agreement as well as anybody or agency qualified in the fields relating to law enforcement in wild fauna and flora, which has informed LATF of its wish to be represented as an observer.
The Ministerial Session of the Governing Council meeting scheduled for 8th May, will be preceded by a three-day Experts meeting, that shall validate the Task Force’s five-year Strategic Plan and discuss substantive technical matters related to the implementation of the Lusaka Agreement.
This meeting will essentially be reviewing the progress on the Decisions made during the 13th Governing Council Meeting held in March 2022 in Livingstone-Zambia, the Extraordinary Meeting of the 13th Governing Council held in June 2023 and the Bureau Meeting of June 2024 held in Nairobi-Kenya and the implementation of LATF’s Programmes of Work.
Additionally, it will address other salient matters and provide guidance on the way forward.