On 3 and 4 September 2024, the Eastern and Southern Africa Commission on Drugs (ESACD), supported by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC) and funded by the EU through the GIFP, convened its third high-level consultation in Zanzibar. Chaired by former President of South Africa Kgalema Motlanthe, the meeting brought together Commissioners including former President of Mozambique Joaquim Chissano, former President of Mauritius Cassam Uteem, and Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim of CAPRISA, alongside senior representatives from the European Union, African Union, and the governments of Tanzania and Zanzibar. Notable participants included Hemed Suleiman Abdulla, Second Vice President of Zanzibar, Maria Rosa Sabbatelli from the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments, and Minata Samaté Cessouma, African Union Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development.
Discussions during the high-level segment centred on the urgent need for regional, international, and multi-stakeholder collaboration to address drug-related challenges. Maria Rosa Sabbatelli emphasised the value of “comprehensive and balanced national drug strategies that combine law enforcement with public health and social interventions.” Contributions from civil society, multilateral organisations, and academia complemented government perspectives, demonstrating the necessity of an all-of-society response to tackle the evolving dynamics of drug markets.
The working-level sessions focused on four key themes: synthetics, services, surveillance, and strategies. Participants examined challenges including the limited availability of health services for people who use drugs, insufficient data-driven surveillance systems, and the need for more effective and inclusive drug policy strategies. Particular attention was given to the increasing threat posed by synthetic drug markets in the region, which continue to grow in complexity and scale.
The consultation concluded with a strong call for enhanced regional and global cooperation, recognising that drug trafficking knows no borders. The work of the ESACD remains pivotal not only for regional progress but also as a contribution to global efforts to address the harms caused by illicit drugs.
