High prices, tension in Niger cast shadow over Eid

(26 Jun 2023) NIGER EID HOLDIAY SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS RESTRICTION SUMMARY: LENGTH: 4:01 ASSOCIATED PRESS Niamey, Niger - 19 June 2023 1. Tourakou cattle market 2. Wide of sheep 3. Sellers getting sheep out of truck 4. Various of sheep 5. Various of people in market 6. Mid of sheep 7. Various of sheep seller counting money 8. SOUNDBITE (Hausa) Ibrahim Moussa, sheep buyer: "We can no longer go far, where the sheep are cheaper, in rural areas at the bottom of the country towards the areas of Tillaberi, Mangaizé and Alambari. People cannot go there because they have spoiled the road, Now there is insecurity in those areas, you don't find peace of mind in these areas." 9. Various of sellers getting sheep off of truck 10. Sheep inside the truck 11. Various of sheep feeding 12. SOUNDBITE (Hausa) Mamane Sani, sheep seller: "Last year, there were more sheep than this year. In fact, even if there are fewer sheep this year, honestly this year people don't have money too. They are tired. This year, we can say that people are broke, both the people who have money and those who have nothing. Everyone is crying, you we don't even know who to believe. The poor are crying and the rich are also crying, frankly people are mourning the poverty. For the moment, the sheep are not so expensive but we call on the state to pay the employees." 13. Tourakou cattle market 14. Various of sheep 15. Sellers taking their sheep to the market 16. Network of Organizations of Pastoralists and Breeders of Niger's sign 17. SOUNDBITE (French) Amadou Tidjani Amadou, member of the Network of Organizations of Pastoralists and Breeders of Niger: "Unfortunately, when we see insecurity today, these areas are inaccessible and most of the breeders, almost 80% of the breeders, are no longer able to operate in these areas. They are often found in the south. That is a cause for concern. It is not even a problem of the markets because the markets are open, but they are not supplied by the breeders since the breeders have practically left the area." 18. Wide of market 19. Cattle cart transporting hay for sheep 20. Various of a truck full of sheep and people STORYLINE: The livestock markets in Niger's capital are typically bustling in the days before the major Eid holiday. But this year, tensions in the south of the country have virtually cut off access to a vital source of animals. This is driving prices of livestock up during peak demand because Muslims traditionally mark Eid al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, by slaughtering livestock, usually a goat, sheep, a cow or a camel. "We can no longer go far, where the sheep are cheaper, in rural areas at the bottom of the country," says Ibrahim Moussa as he was buying a sheep in Niamey, the country's capital. Niger neighbors Mali, which for years has been unable to stem violence from Islamic extremist groups. Nine years after Paris sent troops to the West African country to help drive Islamic extremists from power, France ultimately relocated all of its troops in Mali to Niger in 2022. There have been tensions between Mali and its African neighbors and the European Union after Mali’s government reached out to Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary outfit blamed for atrocities in other countries where it operates. This impacts ordinary people in Niger who are trying to celebrate the coming holiday, one of the most important for the predominantly Muslim country. At the markets in Tourakou and the airport district in Niamey, the inflated price of livestock is presenting a challenge to both shoppers and sellers. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...