To participate in the sustainable management of wildlife, the Congo has ratified and signed several agreements including the Lusaka agreement on Cooperative Enforcement Operations Directed, aiming at illegal trade of fauna and flora. This is an indispensable commitment given that the sophistication of the Central African channels and routes, taken by illegal traffickers of ivory in particular, shows the professionalism of traffickers.
The global illegal trade in wildlife currently generates nearly 10 billion dollars per year. Largely organized by international criminal organizations, it does not only concern live animals or plants but also products such as leather, wooden objects, and medications.
The Congo Brazzaville has been supporting the fight against the protected species from the outset
In the Congo-Brazzaville, operations aiming at arresting illegal trafficking networks are the subject of jointly conducted investigations by the Ministry of Sustainable Development of Forest Economy and the environment, and by the police, in complicity with the Project to support the enforcement of wildlife.
The country has also ratified the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora threatened with extinction, dating from 3rd March 1973. The agreement stipulates that any act of sale and possession of these species is punishable by law. Specimens threatened by illegal traffic mainly come from Asia, Africa and South America.
Trafficking in endangered species of fauna and flora is the third largest source of illicit income in the world after drugs and arms and the second leading cause of extinction of endangered species. In the Congo, as in all of Central Africa, the illegal ivory trade is responsible for the disappearance of 30.000 elephants each year. For this reason, the authorities are trying to tackle the issue as top priority.
The Congolese justice has prosecuted several traffickers
Therefore, in 2008 the police in Douala seized a lorry after discovering it concealed a ton of ivory. A Congolese from Brazzaville, who had intermediaries in China, Japan, West Africa and who employed sculptors from Kinshasa, was arrested the same year.
More recently, there was a trial of Congolese men who had been arrested for illegal trafficking of animals and other objects protected by law. The alleged perpetrators appeared before the second and the third chamber of the Tribunal de Grande Instance in Brazzaville, for trafficking and illegal sale of protected species such as chimpanzees.
In an effort to fight against such trafficking and to regulate flora and fauna trade, 160 countries, including the Congo-Brazzaville, joined the "Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The trade rules governing wild fauna and flora
The CITES is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. The signatory states must apply the international rules by adapting their national legislation. Nearly 5,000 animal species and 28,000 plant species are currently protected. These species are grouped into "appendixes" according to the regulation of their trade. A conference is held every two years with the aim to determine the species to be listed in these "appendixes":
Appendix I lists species that are the most endangered among CITES-listed animals and plants. They are threatened with extinction and CITES prohibits international trade in specimens of these species except when the purpose of the import is not commercial, for instance for scientific research.
Appendix II lists species that are not necessarily now threatened with extinction but that may become so unless trade is closely controlled. International trade in specimens of Appendix-II species may be authorized by the granting of an export permit or re-export certificate. Appendix III is a list of species included at the request of a Party that already regulates trade in the species and that needs the cooperation of other countries to prevent unsustainable or illegal exploitation. International trade in specimens of species listed in this Appendix is allowed only on presentation of the appropriate permits or certificates.
