Wildlife trafficking remains one of the most serious threats to biodiversity and the balance of ecosystems. The recent case of trafficker Babou Djaffar, tried before the Fatshimetrie, highlighted the extent of this scourge and the need for exemplary repression.
The facts date back to May 25, 2022, when Babou Djaffar was arrested in possession of fifty wild animals, including colobus monkeys, cranes and marabouts. These species, all protected and present in the Virunga National Park, were intended to be exported illegally across the Bunagana border.
The public prosecutor, represented during the hearing by a panel of lawyers from the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN), requested a sentence of ten years of penal servitude and a fine of 25,000 US dollars to against Babou Djaffar. This request illustrates the seriousness of the acts committed by the trafficker, as well as the desire to deter any attempt at wildlife trafficking in the region.
Lawyers from the NGO Congolese Alert for the Environment and Human Rights (ACEDH) also spoke during the hearing, emphasizing the importance of an exemplary judgment to put an end to these illegal practices and preserve wildlife. wild of the country. Eric Kambale, one of the ACEDH lawyers, called for strong jurisprudence to raise public awareness of the disastrous consequences of trafficking in protected species.
The complexity of this case, marked by the multiple arrests and releases of Babou Djaffar, highlights the need for effective coordination between judicial authorities and environmental protection organizations to combat wildlife trafficking. The seizure of the fifty animals and their transfer to the Lwiro sanctuary in South Kivu are all concrete measures aimed at preserving biodiversity and guaranteeing the well-being of these threatened species.
In conclusion, the judgment rendered by Fatshimetrie in the Babou Djaffar case is of capital importance for the protection of wildlife and the fight against trafficking in protected animals. It is now up to justice to enforce the law and severely condemn anyone involved in these criminal activities, in order to preserve the natural wealth of the Democratic Republic of Congo and promote harmonious cohabitation between man and nature.