Report of the 2nd Pan African Donkey Conference: Africa's Commitment in Policy and Practice to Donkey Preservation: Now and in the Future - 26-27 June 2025

Abstract

The Report of the Second Pan-African Donkey Conference (PADCO-2), Abidjan, 26–27 June 2025 captures Africa’s strengthened commitment to protecting donkey populations following the African Union moratorium on slaughter for skins. The conference reviewed progress examined threats from illegal trade and welfare gaps, and highlighted donkeys’ vital role in rural livelihoods, women’s empowerment, and economic resilience.

A central outcome was the validation of the Pan-African Strategy for the Preservation, Welfare and Sustainable Utilization of Donkeys (2026–2035) and adoption of the Abidjan Declaration, committing Member States to domesticate and enforce the moratorium. The report positions donkey preservation as both a welfare obligation and a continental development priority.