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Around 400 million people in the world are affected by zoonoses associated with rodents. In addition, at least 280 million cases of undernourishment could be avoided by the effective management of rodent populations that destroy crops and stores of crops. Consequently, the management of rodent populations, reservoirs of pathogens and a threat to stocks and crops, is both a food safety and public health issue. In terms of public policy, many African countries have implemented agricultural intensification programs aimed at improving food self-sufficiency, with direct risks of rodent proliferation. We will document the problematic situations that result from this, illustrating them with case studies. The use of synthetic chemical rodenticides is the most widely used method to control rodents, but it is not only toxic for humans, other animals, and the environment, but also ineffective against rodent populations (for example, it is costly and leads to a build-up of resistance and the avoidance of bait). The circulation and uncontrolled use of these rodenticides in many African countries is associated with considerable risks to health and the environment, without leading to any significant improvements in terms of rodent control or reducing the damage they cause.