Issued on: 29/11/2019
– 08:22Modified: 29/11/2019 – 08:08

Moscow (AFP)
Russia’s defence ministry has donated weapons to Gabon to help the central
African nation battle poachers and protect elephants.

The ministry did not specify how many weapons were provided, saying only
that the delivery consisted of “firearms aimed at helping the government in
its fight against poaching and the protection of national parks.

“Above all, this is about ensuring the protection of the country’s forest
elephant population,” a defence ministry statement said overnight
Thursday-Friday.

Much of Gabon is still covered by forests and home to nearly 60 percent of
Africa’s forest elephants.

Libreville has recently pursued a more aggressive conservation policy with
water and forests minister Lee White saying in September that elephant
poaching had been significantly curbed following China’s decision to ban
trade in ivory in 2017.

Russia has been stepping up its efforts to gain influence in Africa, signing