The Director of Public Prosecutions, Renson Ingonga, CBS, OGW, has called for a coordinated and unified approach to combat the increasingly sophisticated and ever-evolving syndicates involved in human trafficking across the Horn of Africa region.
Speaking during the opening of the Regional Conference on Counter-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants in the Horn of Africa Region, the DPP emphasized the need for strengthened collaboration among governments, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and international partners to effectively address the growing threat.
He noted that human trafficking and migrant smuggling remain serious transnational crimes that exploit vulnerable populations, undermine human rights, and pose significant challenges to security and development across the region.
“The fight against human trafficking requires a collective response that transcends borders and institutional mandates. Criminal networks are constantly adapting their methods, and our response must be equally dynamic, coordinated, and robust,” said the DPP.
The conference has brought together key stakeholders from across the Horn of Africa, including policymakers, prosecutors, investigators, migration experts, and representatives of international organizations, to discuss emerging trends, share best practices, and strengthen regional cooperation in tackling trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants.
Participants are expected to deliberate on strategies aimed at enhancing prevention, improving victim protection, strengthening prosecution efforts, and fostering cross-border collaboration to dismantle criminal networks operating within and beyond the region.
