“A wildlife crime is very difficult to prove in court,” Cassinga said. “Once we have enough evidence and have built the trust of the poacher, we will work with the local authorities to catch these groups in the act of a sale. Of course, we do have protections in place for our investigators.”

After an arrest has taken place, the case must go to court. “This is often a difficult part of the process because corruption is rife at home,” said Cassinga. “We have managed to investigate over 100 cases with about 40 arrests. Of those, half were liable for a fine. We wanted more. We wanted jail time.”

In July, a ConservCongo investigation led to the first jail sentence for a wildlife trafficking crime in the DRC. The case involved the sale of a bonobo, the primate species most closely related to humans. “It gives us hope that if we can do it once, we can do it again,” Cassinga said.

After accomplishing this milestone, Cassinga traveled to Delaware in the fall of 2019 to meet with an old acquaintance who could help on the legislative front — U.S. Senator Chris Coons.

“I first met with Senator Coons during my time as a Mandela Washington Fellow,” Cassinga said. “I remember that he could recite my bio as if he knew it by heart. Senator Coons gave me his card and told me in my mother tongue that environmental issues were close to his heart.” In Washington, D.C., the pair discussed strategies for enforcing wildlife trafficking laws.

“Despite progress in recent years, wildlife poaching and trafficking continue to pose significant threats to conservation efforts around the world and fuel transnational criminal activity,” Coons said. “I commend Adams for his critical conservation work and pledge to continue pushing the U.S. government to support leaders like Adams across the continent through YALI.” (YALI is the Young African Leaders Initiative.)

During his visit to Newark, Cassinga was hosted by Wilmington’s Westminster Presbyterian Church and also gave a special lecture to students in UD’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Cassinga said his time as a UD Mandela Washington Fellow motivates him to seek innovative solutions. “When I came here as a Fellow, I was really fired up,” he said. “If you never leave your mother’s kitchen, you will always think she is the best cook. But here at UD, I saw competition.”

At home, Cassinga’s team will continue its investigative operations and its environmental education programs for youth. “We do still have obstacles to face, but we are steadily forming relationships that will help us overcome these challenges.”

To learn more about ConservCongo, visit the organization’s website or follow along on Facebook.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship

The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) and embodies the United States’ commitment to invest in the future of Africa. Through this initiative, young African leaders gain the skills and connections they need to accelerate their own career trajectories and contribute more robustly to strengthening democratic institutions, spurring economic growth and enhancing peace and security in Africa. 

The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a program of the United States government, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by IREX, a U.S. non-governmental agency. At UD, the Mandela Washington Fellowship is coordinated by the Institute for Global Studies (IGS), in collaboration with other academic and professional units on campus.

The Institute for Global Studies

The Institute for Global Studies (IGS) inspires and facilitates the pursuit of global understanding by developing innovative and inclusive programs of study, opportunities for experiential learning and strategic partnerships.

Perhaps best known for leading the nation’s first study abroad program, IGS is also home to the first-of-its-kind UD World Scholars Program and the Delaware Diplomats Scholarship Program. IGS supports student success through advisement for prestigious awards, including Fulbright, Boren, Gilman and Critical Language Scholarships, as well as sponsorship of the International House (iHouse) Living Learning Community.

The Institute annually administers internationally-recognized State Department public diplomacy programs, bringing more than 75 young leaders from around the world to UD’s Newark campus.

IGS provides faculty funding for research and collaboration abroad, manages the University’s global partnerships and agreements process and sponsors signature events, such as UD Global Month and the Spring Fulbright Lecture Series.