Burkina livestock ban divides traders and consumers

Burkina Faso has suspended the export of all livestock until further notice in an effort to boost meat sales and keep more animals on the domestic market. The move has been welcomed by consumers hoping for lower prices, but it has dealt a sharp blow to traders who depend on cross-border sales.

Livestock trader Moussa Sangaré said exports to Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana have stopped this year, leaving his business severely affected. He said animals bought in the bush for 100,000 CFA francs are now being sold for about 50,000 CFA francs because of the ban.

Another trader, Abassé Kabré, said his Djallonke sheep are highly prized in Ghana and the suspension has hit his livelihood hard. He said he understands the government decision but hopes it will be lifted after the Tabaski festival so traders can resume sales abroad.

The government’s long-term goal is to shift from exporting live animals to exporting processed meat. Officials want to build more value at home while strengthening supply for local consumers, where meat prices have recently fluctuated between 3,000 and 5,000 CFA francs per kilogram.

Consumers in Ouagadougou have welcomed the measure, saying they hope meat prices will ease as a result. The policy may bring short-term relief for households, even as it creates immediate losses for traders and reduces cross-border livestock flows.

In 2024, cattle, sheep and goats ranked third among Burkina Faso’s exports after gold and cotton, generating about 11.8 billion CFA francs in revenue. That shows how important the livestock trade is, and why the export ban has become a major business issue as well as a food supply measure.