African Union leaders agree to ban on donkey slaughter

Donkeys in Africa will have enhanced protection from the devastating donkey skin trade following the ban on the slaughter of donkeys for their skin.

This historic decision taken by the African Heads of state on 18 February at the 37th African Union Summit held in Ethiopia, recognises, at the highest level of decision making, the vital importance of donkeys across Africa. 

The milestone agreement will not only help protect the continent’s 33 million donkeys from being stolen, trafficked and slaughtered, it will also safeguard tens of thousands of communities across Africa that rely on donkeys for their wellbeing and livelihoods.

The outcome of the AU Summit follows our publication of new figures, which show that globally, at least 5.9 million donkeys are slaughtered for their skins every year to meet demand for the traditional Chinese remedy ejiao. As demand for ejiao escalates, donkeys in Africa face a very real existential threat.

The move to ban the slaughter of donkeys for their skins across Africa will deal a significant blow to the donkey skin trade and sends a strong and unified message from Africa’s Heads of State to the world about the urgent need to safeguard the future of these valuable animals.

A message from our CEO

Marianne Steele, our Chief Executive, said “This is a truly momentous result for the welfare of donkeys in Africa. The decision to ban the slaughter of donkeys for the skin trade is enormous. Donkeys are sensitive and intelligent creatures who deserve protection for their own sakes, and for the countless communities who rely on them.

“This agreement from leaders of the African Union strikes at the heart of the brutal skin trade. It’s our hope that this decision will act as a catalyst for the rest of the world to act now, to not just save our donkey populations but to actively recognise their value and protect them properly.”

Dr Otieno Mtula, our Regional Campaigns and Advocacy Manager, said: “This milestone moment is just the beginning – this decision needs to be implemented and enforced by every country that makes up the African Union. We will work closely with our colleagues and partners across Africa to provide all the support and resources we can to see this commitment to a ban on the slaughter of donkeys for their skins become a reality across Africa and the start of a new era for donkey welfare.”

Dr Calvin Solomon Onyango, our Director of The Donkey Sanctuary in Kenya, said: “Here in Kenya we see first-hand the devastating impact of the donkey skin trade. Not just the horrific treatment of these gentle animals, but also the effect it has on women, children and the communities who rely on donkeys for their social and economic lives.

"We are therefore extremely pleased that Africa’s Heads of State have banned the slaughter of donkeys for their skins, across the continent. Based on what we have seen here in Kenya, if the exploitation of donkeys were to continue at the rate we had been seeing, in another three to six years, donkeys could be joining rhino and elephants as an endangered species in Africa.”

Our campaign to Stop the Slaughter is the single biggest donkey protection initiative the charity has undertaken in over 50 years of operation. Those who want to support the campaign can sign up to receive regular updates, and any donation made will support work to improve the welfare of donkeys everywhere, including this campaign.