The Stain of Organ Trafficking in African States: A Critical Examination

Abstract

. Organ trafficking, which is the illegal movement or transportation of human organs for sale and transplant to willing and highest bidding patients or buyers, is an international economic crime. Trafficking of human organs in the African States rages on and has become a significant source of concern not only for the African States, but the world at large. This has, by implication, stained the international image and projection of the African States. There have been attempts by several African States to curb this ugly trend by using the instrumentality of the law. Still, all that has yielded only little results owing to the technicality and discreteness with which those involved in this crime operate. It has been argued that the debate over the trafficking of human beings for organ removal (THBOR) remains largely absent from policy debates, as this crime is hardly detected, reported and sparsely researched. However, criminal networks exploit vulnerable populations, central migrants from and within the African States, for this heinous crime. Exploring the doctrinal research approach, this paper x-rays the stains of human organ trafficking in the African States; it found among others that trafficking of human organs is a booming and highly lucrative economic crime entrenched in Africa and perpetuated with so much secrecy. The paper recommends among others the need for sound legislative debate on how to curb the crime in Africa coupled with virile legal frameworks towards curtailing the crime.