The governor of Nioro in Mali has banned the transhumance and grazing of foreign herds, particularly from
Mauritania, in response to jihadist threats.
On August 28, 2025, the governor signed a decision banning the transhumance and grazing of animals belonging to foreign nationals in the region until further notice.
This measure was taken for security reasons in the face of growing jihadist threats, and particularly targets herds from Mauritania.
The Nioro region, located on Mali’s borders with Mauritania and Senegal, sees approximately 5 million heads of cattle cross its borders each year, 70 percent of which come from Mauritania.
In 2023, approximately 40,000 pastoralists accompanied 3 million animals through the Nioro region, representing a major economic burden for the local population. The pastoral sector is a pillar of the Malian economy, representing approximately 19 percent of GDP, with 30 percent of the population dependent on livestock for their income.
This ban, while essential for security, could disrupt this dynamic.
This border area is a strategic route for the supply of meat and milk throughout the region. Decree No. 2010-602/P-RM governing transhumance in Mali, while guaranteeing the mobility of pastoralists, authorises the temporary restriction of these practices for security reasons.
However, the bans directly affect the daily lives of the population, as they reduce access to vital resources for communities. While the Malian authorities cite legitimate military reasons, the deregulation of pastoral mobility could fuel new tensions between farmers and pastoralists over available natural resources.
The sector is already under pressure, with hundreds of thousands of livestock diverted to secondary routes in 2023, causing local conflict and economic losses.
Mali, with over 15 million cattle and 35 million small ruminants, remains a key player in the cross-border livestock
trade, but current tensions highlight the importance of a collaborative management model between neighbouring states to avoid a collapse of the pastoral supply chain.
MD/ac/fss/as/APA