Households Under Pressure as Meat Prices Soar in Bamako

Households and traders in Bamako are grappling with a sharp rise in meat prices during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, a period typically associated with higher consumption.

Correspondent Sira Doumbia, during visits to several local markets, reports that many households are struggling to cope with the latest surge, which follows several successive price increases even before the start of the fasting period.

Across markets in the capital, the price of a kilogram of meat now ranges between 3,400 and 5,000 CFA francs (approximately $6 to $10).

Butchery by-products, traditionally considered cheaper alternatives, have also recorded notable price increases.

Traders attribute the situation largely to a shortage of beef on the market.

“To buy a cow, you now have to spend at least 500,000 CFA francs,” one butcher said.

While some butchers are trying to sustain their businesses, others say they are facing significant difficulties.

The rising costs have also affected women who depend on selling soup made from animal feet or stomachs, with several forced to suspend their activities due to irregular supplies.

The price increases are particularly felt during the Ramadan period, when demand for essential food items, including meat, typically rises.