Kenya has fought to maintain the global ivory trade ban since CITES imposed it in 1989. Southern African countries with growing elephant populations want the ban lifted, arguing they should profit from their conservation success. Kenya argues that any legal trade provides cover for poaching. The debate is ideological and economic. Kenya burns its ivory stockpiles to make a point. Others sell theirs. At every CITES meeting, Kenya leads the coalition to keep the ban. The ivory wars are not over, just paused.