- Title: Food prices soar in coup-hit Niger as sanctions bite
- Date: 4th August 2023
- Summary: NIAMEY, NIGER (AUGUST 4, 2023) (REUTERS) OPEN-AIR VEGETABLE STAND MAN BUYING RICE, IBOU KANE, APPROACHING STOREFRONT PLASTIC BAGS FILLED WITH COOKING OIL BOTTLES OF COOKING OIL KANE PICKING UP BAG OF RICE AND HANDING IT TO YOUNG BOY KANE AND YOUNG BOY WALKING THROUGH MARKET (SOUNDBITE) (French) MAN BUYING RICE, IBOU KANE, SAYING: "Frankly, I felt it in my pocket. And right now, where we are, we're all stocking up, I think. Most householders and the like, everybody's stocking up at home. To take measures against these kinds of things. Already, just a few days away, an increase of 3 to 4,000 francs (CFA) ($5 to 6). In a month's time, what's it going to be like? That's the question." VARIOUS OF OPEN-AIR MARKET CEREAL TRADER, BOUBACAR SALOU, SCOOPING CEREALS FROM BLACK BOWLS INTO PLASTIC BAGS SALOU TYING OFF PLASTIC BAG AND HANDING IT TO CUSTOMER SALOU COUNTING MONEY AND HANDING CHANGE TO CUSTOMER (SOUNDBITE) (French) CEREAL TRADER, BOUBACAR SALOU, SAYING: "If you have the oil you must bring the price down now because we mustn't create panic now. Because we're all concerned. What's happened in Niger now, it's up to us to show that we are Nigeriens, and that we must help those around us, and above all help the new government to work, to show the world that it really is to work, to raise Niger, to raise the challenge. It's not about listening to or favouring those who seek foreign powers, those who are against our country. So really, we need to change, to show that we are Muslims, that we are going to do everything we can to help those around us." MARKET GENERAL GOODS STOREFRONT JUGS OF COOKING OIL VARIOUS OF MARKET REPRESENTATIVE, OUMAROU SEYNI, SPEAKING WITH TRADERS ON BREAK BLACK BOWLS FILLED WITH CEREALS (SOUNDBITE) (Zarma) MARKET REPRESENTATIVE, OUMAROU SEYNI, SAYING: "Before the coup, a can of oil was sold for 22,000 CFA ($36.84). Now it's 33,000 ($55.28). A bag of rice was 11,000 CFA ($18.42), now it's 14,000 ($23.45) or even 15,000 CFA ($25.23)." VARIOUS OF BAGS OF RICE IN WAREHOUSE (SOUNDBITE) (Zarma) MARKET REPRESENTITIVE, OUMAROU SEYNI, SAYING: "Shopkeepers just have to be sincere and, above all, God-fearing. Because what has happened concerns all Nigeriens. All they have to do is take inspiration from what others are doing in countries in the same situation." GENERAL GOODS SHOP RICE BAGS SALOU SCOOPING CEREALS INTO HAND
- Embargoed: 18th August 2023 13:12
- Keywords: africa business conflict coup diplomacy economics emerging foreign government markets military niamey niger peace policy politics trade war west
- Location: NIAMEY, NIGER
- City: NIAMEY, NIGER
- Country: Niger
- Topics: Africa,Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA001229904082023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Shoppers in Niger's coup-hit capital fretted about soaring prices for basic foods on Friday (August 4), a sign of the sanctions pressure the junta has vowed it will weather as it resists regional efforts to stand down.
In a market in Niamey, customer Kane Ibou said the cost of a bag of rice had gone up by more than a third to around 15,000 CFA (25 USD) since last week's military takeover prompted the West African political bloc to close borders and sever commercial ties.
The military junta in Niger is locked in a standoff with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has taken its hardest stance yet on last week's ouster of President Mohamed Bazoum - the seventh coup in West and Central Africa since 2020.
The bloc has imposed sweeping sanctions and warned it could authorize the use of force if Bazoum is not reinstated by Sunday.
(1 FCFA = 0.00167809 USD)
(Production: Abdel-Kader Mazou, Cooper Inveen) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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