"Peace, Poaching and Pangolins in Central Africa" 25 April 2023

The pangolin — also known as the scaly anteater — is a small, primarily nocturnal mammal that lives in parts of Africa and Asia. Reportedly the most trafficked animal in the world, the pangolin is desired for its scales and its meat, particularly in Southeast Asia. [...] Cameroon is at the center of wildlife trafficking in Central Africa. It is both a source country of animal products as well as a transit route for contraband from neighboring Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic. All roads lead to Douala, Cameroon’s largest city and economic capital, home to both the region’s largest seaport and a major international airport. From here, exports can readily be made worldwide. [...]

What is the role of China, and other Southeast Asian countries, in Central Africa’s wildlife trafficking trade?

China, as well as Vietnam, and to a lesser extent Laos and Malaysia, are key destinations for wildlife contraband from Central Africa. [...]

How does wildlife trafficking affect peace and security in Central Africa?

Corruption facilitates trafficking and trafficking incentivizes corruption. This cycle of corruption can lead to violence, as even those law enforcement officers dedicated to rooting out trafficking may fall victim to the distortion of priorities within their organizations and bureaucracies. Unfortunately, corruption remains endemic at both local and national levels in Cameroon.

More widely, the lucrative nature of trafficking has incentivized poachers to become increasingly militarized in their approaches, sometimes intimidating local residents, and sometimes leading to clashes between different poaching networks. During my research in Cameroon, villagers near the Dja Faunal Reserve, one of the last largely intact rainforests in the region, told me that they have been threatened at gunpoint and with arrest if they are seen to hinder any organized poaching efforts. Poaching causes insecurity for local communities, especially those living near protected areas such as national parks or reserves, making such communities targets for criminals and armed groups. Even worse for security, in some cases, the military and police are involved in trafficking operations, particularly in facilitating the transport of wildlife products. [...]