Kenya to press for total ban of ivory trade at CITES
Part of a 700 kilogramme ivory haul seized by Togolese police in 2013. Mr Kenyatta said this will not be the generation of Africans who stood by as elephants are lost. FILE PHOTO | EMILE KOUTON |
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The Johannesburg convention will be a continuation of Kenya’s fight against several countries, including South Africa, who are lobbying for ivory trade to be legalised.
Kenya will push for a total ban in ivory trade during the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meeting to be held in Johannesburg in September, President Uhuru Kenyatta has said.
Speaking when he opened the inaugural Giant Club Summit, one of the biggest government-led conservation conferences in Africa, Mr Kenyatta said this will not be the generation of Africans who stood by as elephants are lost.
The Johannesburg convention will be a continuation of Kenya’s fight against several countries, including South Africa, who are lobbying for ivory trade to be legalised.
“We must mobilise friends and partners across the globe to join us in the fight. The Giants Club has already proved itself a key ally,” Mr Kenyatta said Friday.
During the previous CITES conference in Switzerland, Kenya was among four countries who pushed for suspension of a working group whose work could result in a final decision to allow ivory trade.
Friday’s meeting comes ahead of Saturday’s ivory and rhino horn stockpile burn at the Nairobi National Park.
In attendance was Uganda President Yoweri Museveni and President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon.
“I am particularly proud to be associated with an initiative that seeks to combat poaching by bringing together visionary leaders who will provide the political will, financial resources and technical capacity that is so urgently required to save Africa’s remaining elephants,” Mr Kenyatta said.
