Staff Writer
People are starting to notice the economic impacts one week after the coup in Niger and just days after several of the neighboring countries of the landlocked West African nation imposed sanctions to punish the putschists.
Trade and financial sanctions were implemented by the members of the ECOWAS regional bloc of West African nations to put pressure on the military to allow the country to return to democratic rule.
Although the marketplaces are still stocked with supplies, many report that food costs have already increased.
A resident of Niamey Salamatou Touré claimed that on Wednesday, the price of a bag of rice had already climbed from the previous 10,000 CFA ($17) to 13,750 CFA ($23).
According to Abdoul Aziz Seyni, an economist at the University of Niamey, “if these (bordering) countries decide to close their borders, there will be an impact on the socioeconomic life of Nigeriens.”
Banking activities are largely shut down, and there have been reports of cash machines no longer dispensing money, which makes matters worse.
