On Wednesday April 02, 2025, the conference room was the setting for an audience granted by the Minister of Forestry and Wildlife to the traditional chiefs of the BOMBOKO village in MEME Department, South-West Region. In addition to the representative of the village, the audience was attended by some of the Minister's close collaborators.
The purpose of the audience requested by the chiefs was to bring to the Minister's attention a recurrent case of human/wildlife conflict, particularly elephants, which are rampant in the area; which ravage the plantations of the local populations as they go, plunging them into a situation of famine and poverty.
In addition, the chiefs made a point of denouncing to the Minister the occupation of the park by the local population. The aim was to solicit a government solution to these two situations.
After listening to them, the Minister welcomed the chiefs' initiative, reminding them that human/wildlife conflicts are a national issue.
Together, the participants discussed the various measures that could be put in place to contain elephant attacks. These include the installation of beehive fences, pepper fences, the amplification of various noises to keep elephants away, and possibly administrative beatings. Other techniques exist, notably electric fences, which are very costly.
The Head of the Ministerial Department pointed out that the law, awaiting its implementing decree, includes provisions for a compensation mechanism in the event of damage caused by animals.
In the ensuing exchanges, it became clear that whatever solutions are implemented as part of the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources program, the local population should be given pride of place. But in the final analysis, given the prevailing security context, a concerted solution with other administrations and stakeholders should be the priority.
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