The East African regional countries have established a wildlife protection website that will help track down wildlife crimes in the region.
According to East Africa Association of Prosecutors (EAAP), one that setup the site, will enhance communication, promote co-operation on transnational wildlife crimes, data sharing, bilateral agreements, mutual legal assistance, harmonisation of laws, procedures, penalties and also collaborate in supporting the enforcement and prosecution of wildlife crimes.
The website was developed with support from the United States Agency for International Development funded project Conserving Natural Capital and Enhancing Collaborative Management of Transboundary Resources in East Africa (Connect).
It was created in response to the objectives established under the East Africa Community regional strategy to combat poaching, illegal trade and trafficking of wildlife and wildlife products.
While speaking at the recent virtual launch of the microsite, EAAP president and director of Tanzania National Prosecution Services Biswalo Mganga said prosecutors must ensure the coronavirus pandemic does not impede joint efforts to fight wildlife crimes.
The virtual launch was attended by Uganda’s Director of Public Prosecution Justice Jane Abodo, Kenya’s Secretary Public Prosecution Dorcas Oduor and Rwanda’s deputy Prosecutor-General Angelique Habyarimana.
Other representatives were Burundi’s deputy Prosecutor-General Isaac Kubwayo with head of EAAP Secretariat and acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions in Kenya Rhoda Ogoma.
“This website is a great milestone and a tangible output achieved in the process of the implementation of the EAC regional strategy,” said EAC’s Principal Tourism Officer Simon Kiarie.
“Facilitating regular communication between prosecutors will help to disrupt transnational smuggling networks while ensuring smooth and timely communication between nations when dealing with transnational wildlife smuggling networks,” said Julie Thomson, Traffic’s East Africa programme office director.
“We must strive to ensure that the COVID-19 pandemic does not impede our joint efforts in fighting against wildlife crime. This website supports our mission of promoting effective coordination and cooperation in preventing crime within the region,” said Mr Biswalo E.K Mganga, President of the EAAP and Director of Public Prosecutions, Tanzania National Prosecution Services.
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