Ivory Coast faces severe sheep shortage before Tabaski as Sahel trade collapses

Livestock markets in Abidjan, Ivory Coast are experiencing acute shortages of sheep just days before Tabaski, the major Islamic festival, as Burkina Faso and Mali have suspended exports and regional insecurity has closed traditional trade corridors through the Sahel. According to France 24's ground reporting, the supply disruption has caused sheep prices to surge across Abidjan's markets. The shortage reflects the broader fragmentation of West African trade networks due to militant activity and political instability in Mali and Burkina Faso, which have historically supplied the majority of livestock to coastal markets. The timing compounds hardship for Ivorian families and traders dependent on the pre-holiday market rush.