Niger has implemented a ban on the export of certain food products, including legumes and cereals, to safeguard its internal market amidst rising inflation on essential goods. This decision follows the formation of the ASS confederation, which includes Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, as a mutual defense pact in response to the 2023 Nigerien crisis and the threat of military intervention by the West African political bloc ECOWAS after a coup in Niger.
In a statement released late Wednesday, the government, led by Junta chief Abdourahamane Tiani, emphasized that the ban aims to ensure the accessibility of mass-consumption goods for the local population. The prohibitions will not apply to exports to Mali and Burkina Faso, Niger's allied neighbors that are also under military rule.
Violators of the ban face penalties ranging from the seizure of shipments to criminal charges. Niger is a crucial regional supplier of cereals, particularly for neighboring Nigeria, and the export restrictions are expected to impact the availability of these products.
Although ECOWAS lifted sanctions on Niger in February following the coup in July 2023, disruptions to regular supply chains have contributed to persistent inflation, particularly for rice. The closure of the border with Benin has further exacerbated these challenges.
In response to the situation, Niger's agriculture minister has pledged to purchase part of the farmers' harvests to bolster the country’s emergency reserves, expressing optimism for "good agricultural harvests" despite significant flooding affecting the region