Niger’s commerce ministry has announced a ban on livestock exports in an effort to prevent a surge in prices leading up to the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday.
In Niger, where over 90 percent of the population is Muslim, hundreds of thousands of sheep are traditionally sacrificed for Eid al-Adha, which falls in early June this year.
Jihadist groups operating in Niger and the wider Sahel region have frequently resorted to stealing livestock. This has caused many herders to flee their homes and driven prices upwards.
Livestock theft serves as a significant source of revenue for jihadist organizations like Boko Haram. Their fighters often resell the stolen animals in local markets or export them to fund their operations.
Niger, a large desert nation, is a major exporter of cattle, particularly to neighboring countries such as Nigeria and Ivory Coast.
Commerce Minister Abdoulaye Seydou stated that the objective of the ban on exporting cattle, sheep, goats, and camels is “to ensure the regular supply” of livestock within the national market in anticipation of the upcoming celebrations.
He also indicated that security forces have been instructed to “repress any violation” of this measure.
Authorities in Niger regularly implement bans on animal exports as a preventative measure against shortages and price inflation during this significant religious period.
