A two-day inter-community workshop opened yesterday, Wednesday June 26, 2024, in Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau, and addresses innovative strategies to combat cross-border livestock theft between Senegal and Guinea-Bissau . It is under the aegis of the NGO WANEP/Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, with financial support from the Austrian Development Cooperation. What emerged from the discussions of this first day was the urgency of harmonization of legal texts and regulations, particularly the criminalization of livestock theft in Guinea-Bissau. The circulation of firearms, the collapse of the local economy and instability are also noted as dramatic consequences resulting from this phenomenon.
This inter-community dialogue session opened yesterday, Wednesday June 26, 2024, in Bissau for two days, between actors from Senegal and those from Guinea-Bissau, is part of the implementation of the project to combat cross-border theft livestock between the two countries and financed by Austrian Development Cooperation. Taking part in this meeting are the Defense and Security Forces, administrative officials, territorial elected officials and members of the cross-border community frameworks for consultation and resolution of conflicts linked to livestock theft, under the aegis of WANEP/Senegal and Guinea. -Bissau with their implementation partners who are the NGO Enfance et Paix et Afrique stakes.
Alfred Gomis, the National Coordinator of WANEP/Senegal, states that “cattle theft not only destroys social cohesion between the two countries but also impoverishes the communities sharing the border area. In addition, we often see cases of loss of human life. This is exacerbated by the circulation of firearms between thieves and animal owners..
And to continue: “we initiated this project with the support of Austrian development cooperation to mitigate this phenomenon if not eradicate it immediately. We thank the governments of Senegal and that of Guinea-Bissau for their commitment to supporting us in this mission. We involve all the territorial actors, the field actors, the sectors and the religious and customary dignitaries”.
TRACEABILITY OF LIVESTOCK MOVEMENT CLAIMED
His counterpart from Guinea-Bissau invites the authorities of the two countries to further support their initiative at the operational level. “It is the sovereign mission of States to ensure the security of their population. And seeing Senegal and Guinea-Bissau create a synergy in this fight against cross-border livestock theft is truly satisfying and an approach to be strengthened. The same goes for the free movement of people and goods which is eagerly awaited in this ECOWAS area. notes Ms. Denise Cabral Dosantos Ndecky.
Ms. Gomes Balbina Delfina Dasylva, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Border Management in Guinea-Bissau, encourages the option of tracking the movement of livestock for each movement of the animal. “To date, it appears essential to support the option of animal traceability in the event of movement. Inform and raise awareness among all stakeholders, including village chiefs, who ensure the registration of animals in the event of movement. It is a deterrent option for thieves. We are already working on this and believe we can achieve it successfully. she says.
COMMON LEGAL INSTRUMENTS, DISSUASIVE AND REPRESSIVE
The Guinean government of Bissau was represented there by the Director of the Administration of Territorial Communities. Pansau Kondé reassures mechanisms for collaboration, prevention and fight against cross-border livestock theft. “The government of the Republic of Guinea Bissau considers this aspect of livestock theft as a major problem to be resolved. There must be frank collaboration between the different actors and stakeholders in the fight. We have a structure called the national cross-border commission which, in addition to cattle theft, works to prohibit banditry on these bordering routes. indicated the representative of the Guinean State of Bissau, at the opening of the work.
The debates are rich and varied and promise good recommendations today, with a view to eradicating cross-border livestock theft between Senegal and Guinea-Bissau. Most of the suggestions go in the direction of harmonization of legislative texts and regulations between Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, in the Strategies to combat livestock theft. “Livestock theft is criminalized in Senegal and not yet in Guinea Bissau; As a result, the borders will always serve as corridors for thieves to find refuge in Guinea where they will not be pursued by criminals. We therefore need dissuasive legal instruments to go together in the fight. we noted in the plenaries.
Moussa DRAME, Special Envoy to Bissau
