Mauritania boosts vital sheep supply to Senegal for Tabaski celebrations

Nouakchott has entered into a significant agreement, committing to deliver 450,000 sheep to Dakar as Senegal faces a deficit in its traditional livestock supply. This shortfall stems from the escalating insecurity in Mali, historically a key provider of cattle and sheep to its West African neighbors.

Beyond its commitment to Senegal, Mauritania is also expected to help fulfill a portion of Côte d’Ivoire’s sheep requirements for the upcoming Tabaski festivities. This expanded role is similarly driven by the prevailing security challenges across the sub-region, which have disrupted established trade routes.

Alioune Kane, a technical expert with the National Grouping of Pastoral Associations (GNAP), clarified the current situation. “We’ve seen the renewal of an existing protocol,” Kane explained. “Typically, Mauritanian pastoralists would export between 460,000 and 500,000 sheep to Senegal. However, this year, that quota is set to increase significantly due to the ongoing instability in Mali,” a territory that once served as a crucial transit corridor for breeders traveling from Mauritania’s eastern regions to Senegal.

Kane further noted that a substantial number of Mauritanian breeders have already crossed into Senegalese territory, making their way towards Dakar and other major urban centers. He assured that the Senegalese government has pledged to implement all necessary security, administrative, customs, and sanitary measures to ensure the smooth and safe execution of the Tabaski livestock operation.

Baba Hassan Sidi, a GNAP representative for the Néma region, reminisced about earlier times. “There was a period when Mali enjoyed stability,” Sidi recounted, “and Mauritanian herders from regions like Néma and Aïoun would routinely traverse that territory to enter Senegal.”

For this year’s celebrations, however, breeders must navigate an alternative path to reach Senegal safely. This new route involves a river crossing from the Trarza region directly into Senegalese territory. This revised corridor will inevitably extend the truck journey for livestock originating from Mauritania’s eastern provinces.

Sidi emphasized that many breeders are already established in Senegal, operating under an agreement that underscores the enduring, centuries-old relationship between the peoples of Mauritania and Senegal.