Berlin, Germany – In a recent visit to the German capital, former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi made a plea to the federal government to support the legalization of the ivory trade. Masisi, who is known for his country’s conservation efforts, argued that the current ban on ivory trade is not only costly but also ineffective, as it leads to the destruction of the valuable resource.
“We are very ethical and transparent in our handling of ivory” Masisi told Bild, a German newspaper. “We are a rule of law state and it’s time to give back. We want to trade.” He appealed to Germany and the international community to reconsider the ban, citing the economic benefits of legalizing the ivory trade.
The ivory trade is currently prohibited internationally, with African countries, including Botswana, storing the tusks in warehouses or even burning them. The practice has sparked growing resistance in southern Africa, led by Zimbabwe.
In response to Masisi’s appeal, a spokesperson for the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety told Bild that there is no known proposal to change the regulations on ivory trade. The ministry, however, emphasized the importance of dialogue with countries like Botswana and Namibia, stating that Germany places great value on this dialogue, including on the topic of ivory trade.
Botswana has also extended an offer to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to take in 20,000 elephants, a move that was confirmed by diplomatic representatives of the country, including former President Masisi and Ambassador John-Thomas Dipowe. The new government in Botswana, led by President Duma Boko, is continuing the conservation efforts initiated by Masisi’s administration.
Masisi told Bild that the German government should prepare to accept the elephants, saying, “The federal government should prepare to receive our elephants. Our question to Chancellor Merz is, ‘Will you take the 20,000 elephants? If Germany takes the first five, that’s a good start.'” The condition for the relocation is that the elephants must be allowed to roam freely in Germany.
In a separate statement, Masisi praised Merz’s efforts to strengthen ties with Africa, saying that the response has been positive in the southern part of the continent. He also criticized the Green Party, stating that Merz does not make politics “over the heads of Africans.