Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NIAMEY135
2009-03-16 07:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Niamey
Cable title:  

WEEKLY CAMEL MARKET DRIVES LIBYA-LAKE CHAD TRADE

Tags:  ECON ETRD KCRM KMPI PINR PTER SENV SMIG NG 
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VZCZCXRO0154
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHNM #0135 0750719
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 160719Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4905
INFO RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI
RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS 3487
UNCLAS NIAMEY 000135 

DEPT FOR AF/W AND USAID
ACCRA FOR FAS AND USAID
PARIS FOR AF WATCHER

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD KCRM KMPI PINR PTER SENV SMIG NG
SUBJECT: WEEKLY CAMEL MARKET DRIVES LIBYA-LAKE CHAD TRADE

UNCLAS NIAMEY 000135

DEPT FOR AF/W AND USAID
ACCRA FOR FAS AND USAID
PARIS FOR AF WATCHER

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD KCRM KMPI PINR PTER SENV SMIG NG
SUBJECT: WEEKLY CAMEL MARKET DRIVES LIBYA-LAKE CHAD TRADE


1. In far eastern Niger, N'Guigmi's weekly camel market on Sundays
and Mondays draws buyers from Libya, Chad, and Nigeria, and 500 -
1,000 head change hands each week. The sale and export of camels
has emerged as the most important source of income for the
community. At the same time, it has dramatically revived the Lake
Chad region's trade with Libya, which had all but completely stopped
during the postwar and early independence period.


2. Forty years ago, the shoreline of Lake Chad reached the outskirts
of N'Guigmi, Niger, and fishing was an important element of the
local economy. As the lake receded, livestock herders moved in to
graze cattle and camels on the brushy vegetation that covers the
former lake bed. Declining precipitation throughout the region
reduced the quality and amount of available pasture, and many of the
groups that historically had kept mixed herds of cattle and camels
shifted largely to the more drought- resistant camels.


3. The community of N'Guigmi has organized the camel market in order
to protect buyers and insure a steady stream of income to the
community. Sellers pay a 250 CFA (USD 0.50) registration fee for
each animal they offer for sale, and the animals are tied and
hobbled in a vast market area south of the town. Buyers move freely
to inspect the hundreds of waiting animals, but all sales are
finalized through a third-party guarantor who is licensed by the
city. Guarantors are locals with extensive knowledge of the market
and the registered camel brands of individual sellers. To guard
against fraud and camel theft, each transaction requires a guarantor
who knows the seller personally and can vouch that the camel belongs
to the seller. The guarantor of each sale receives 5,000 CFA (USD
10) for his role in the transaction. The buyer also pays 1,000 CFA
(USD 2) to register his purchase and insure that it is properly
identified with the new owner's brand. Once sold, the animal is
moved to a different area where purchasers gather their camels and
hold them until they depart.


4. Despite this highly structured system, the market is a dusty
swirl of buyers and sellers representing nomads from Niger, Arabs
from Libya and Chad, and meat buyers from Nigeria, wandering amidst
hundreds of camels of all ages and sizes. Apart from the separate
area for animals that have been sold, the camels are not arranged in
any order. Some are standing on three legs, with the fourth leg
folded up and tied tightly to keep them from moving; others are kept
in a lying position by restraint of multiple legs; calmer animals
are left with only leg hobble while nursing calves are left
unrestrained at the side of their mothers. N'Guigmi officials
expressed frustration that in all this chaos, lack of a boundary
wall around the market area makes it impossible to insure that all
transactions are properly registered and appropriate fees
collected.


5. Camels are the most valuable livestock in Niger. Prices for
camels sold through the N'Guigmi market on March 22 and 23, 2009,
varied according to the age and general condition of the animal,
with immature and untrained camels bringing 250,000 - 275,000 CFA
(approximately USD 550) and the largest and best male camels selling
for over 4,000,000 (USD 7,500+). All sales are in cash. The
largest number and best camels are purchased for export to Libya,
while Nigerian buyers seek young camels to be slaughtered for meat.
Animals in poor condition due to heavy use in regions with poor
forage may be purchased by locals, who fatten them up on the
relatively lush forage available in the former lake bed before
bringing them back to resell in N'Guigmi.


6. Newly purchased camels are not usually transported by truck.
Instead, long caravans of camels, many loaded with goods, leave
N'Guigmi each week, headed across the desert towards Libya and Chad.
The camel caravans facilitate exchange of goods, both licit and
illicit, and make it easier for restive ethnic groups like the
Toubou to obtain arms and money.

Minimize considered.

ALLEN