African ministers have united to protect donkeys from the rampant skin trade through the Abidjan Declaration, signed during the Pan-African Donkey Conference in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

• Over 5.9 million donkeys are slaughtered annually, impacting local economies.
• Niall Duffy, Executive Director of Policy and Profile at The Donkey Sanctuary, emphasized the importance of dignity, equity, and sustainability.
• The declaration includes a strategy to enhance the livelihoods of communities dependent on donkeys, particularly women and children.