Burkina Faso halts livestock exports as government prioritizes domestic meat supply

BURKINA FASO – Burkina Faso has suspended livestock exports indefinitely after the government halted the issuance of Special Export Authorisations for cattle, sheep, and goats as part of efforts aimed at increasing animal availability within the domestic market.

The restriction, which took effect on May 8, was introduced jointly by the country’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Economy, with authorities giving exporters holding valid permits one week to complete pending export procedures before the suspension is fully enforced.

Meanwhile, the decision comes as the West African nation accelerates plans to expand its meat processing sector following several state-backed projects launched since 2025 to increase local slaughtering and processing capacity for both domestic consumption and exports.

In line with that strategy, the government established the Faso Abattoir Agency in April 2025 to oversee the management of slaughterhouses across the country, improve logistics systems linked to livestock distribution, and supervise the modernisation of meat processing infrastructure.

At the same time, authorities have initiated multiple slaughterhouse development projects, including the January 2026 announcement of a new slaughterhouse in Banfora valued at nearly US$5 million, with additional facilities planned for Fada N’Gourma and Bobo-Dioulasso, alongside renovation works at slaughterhouses in Tenkodogo and Dédougou.

Export growth and regional trade concerns

The export suspension follows a period of rapid growth in Burkina Faso’s live animal trade, with figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Demography showing live cattle exports increased from 426.3 tonnes in 2020 to 5,273 tonnes in 2024.

Similarly, exports of sheep and goats rose from 555.7 tonnes to 8,608 tonnes during the same five-year period as regional demand for livestock from Burkina Faso continued to expand.

According to official statistics, exports of cattle, sheep, and goats generated close to US$21.1 million in revenue in 2024, suggesting an extended suspension could reduce foreign-exchange earnings for traders and livestock producers in the sector.

However, the decision may also affect livestock supply across West Africa because Burkina Faso remains one of the region’s major exporters of live animals to neighbouring countries.

Trade data indicates Ghana accounted for roughly 60% of Burkina Faso’s livestock exports by value over the past five years, while Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, and Togo also ranked among the country’s key buyers.

Although a large share of livestock trade in West Africa occurs through informal cross-border channels that are not fully captured in official data, analysts say Burkina Faso’s role in regional supply chains is likely larger than the recorded figures suggest, raising concerns that prolonged export restrictions could tighten livestock availability in several regional markets.

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