Burkina Faso has suspended the export of all livestock until further notice in a policy aimed at boosting domestic meat availability and stabilising prices on the local market.
The decision has been widely welcomed by some consumers but has triggered concern among livestock traders, who say the measure is severely affecting their businesses.
Livestock trader Moussa Sangaré said the suspension has disrupted long-standing export operations to neighbouring countries such as Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.
“Every year, we used to be able to export 500 sheep to Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. This year, frankly, nothing has gone out,” he said.
He added that falling prices have forced traders to sell at a loss, with animals bought for about 100,000 CFA francs being sold for nearly half that amount.
Another exporter, Abassé Kabré, said the ban has significantly impacted his business, which has operated for nearly a decade.
His Djallonke sheep, which are highly valued in Ghana, have become difficult to export under the new restrictions.
“As this is a government decision, we accept it even if it is difficult,” Kabré said. “We are asking the Burkinabe authorities to lift the ban after the Tabaski festival so that we can sell our sheep in Ghana.”
Local meat prices have fluctuated between 3,000 and 5,000 CFA francs per kilogram in recent months, according to market data cited in reports.
Some consumers, however, have welcomed the suspension, hoping it will lead to lower prices.
“We hope that the price per kilogramme of meat will fall as a result of this suspension,” said Ouagadougou resident André Tiendrébéogo. “It will be a real relief for consumers.”
The policy is part of a broader government strategy aimed at shifting from raw livestock exports toward processed meat exports in the long term.
In 2024, livestock—including cattle, sheep, and goats—ranked as Burkina Faso’s third-largest export category after gold and cotton, generating an estimated 11.8 billion CFA francs in revenue.
