Niger Bans Livestock Exports Ahead of Eid al-Adha

By Abdullahi Yusuf

Niger has banned livestock exports in an effort to avoid a spike in prices ahead of the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday, the commerce ministry said.

In Niger, a country that is more than 90 percent Muslim, hundreds of thousands of sheep are sacrificed for Eid al-Adha, in early June.

Jihadist groups in Niger and the Sahel region have routinely resorted to stealing livestock leading many herders to flee their villages and prices to soar.

Livestock theft provides jihadist groups such as Boko Haram with a major source of revenue. Its fighters resell some animals at local markets and export some to support their operations.

The huge desert country is a major cattle exporter, especially to neighbouring Nigeria and Ivory Coast.

Commerce Minister Abdoulaye Seydou said the aim of the ban on exporting cattle, sheep, goats and camels was “to ensure the regular supply” of livestock on the national market ahead of the celebrations.

He said security forces had been ordered to “repress any violation” of the measure. To prevent shortages and price surges, authorities regularly ban animal exports.

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