The strategies, covering donkey protection and conservation through 2030 and the prevention and control of foot-and-mouth disease and avian influenza from 2027 to 2031, were reviewed and adopted by ministers responsible for animal health and their representatives at a meeting in Lomé, Togo, on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 11th annual meeting of ECOWAS regional animal health networks, which ran from October 6 to 8 under the theme, “Strengthening the surveillance and control of transboundary animal diseases in the ECOWAS region.”
Under the donkey protection and conservation strategy, the ministers committed to four key actions in response to growing threats to the species across West Africa.
One of the proposed measures is a ban on the trade in donkey skins, to be pursued through stronger national legislation and improved cross-border cooperation.
The strategy calls for coordinated action by veterinary services, police, customs authorities, quarantine services and other relevant agencies in ECOWAS member states to strengthen enforcement and tackle the trade.
The regional approach places emphasis on cooperation among member states, recognising the importance of coordinated action in addressing threats that cross national borders.
The two disease-control strategies will focus on preventing and controlling foot-and-mouth disease and avian influenza during the 2027–2031 period.
Both diseases pose significant concerns for animal health and livestock production, making surveillance, prevention and coordinated responses important components of regional animal health management.
The adoption of the three strategies signals a regional effort to strengthen animal protection and improve preparedness against transboundary animal diseases.
However, the measures will depend on implementation by member states, including the strengthening of national laws, enforcement capacity and cooperation among relevant authorities.
The meeting brought together animal health ministers and their representatives as part of wider ECOWAS efforts to strengthen regional surveillance and control of animal diseases.
