In front of one of Niger’s first banks, Niamey, the capital, the queue overflows on the road and the crowd is getting impatient. Due to lack of cash, the vending machines are empty and the counters are overflowing.
More than four months after the military coup on July 26, banks are on the brink of asphyxia. In this country, among the poorest in the world, the concern is growing.
In a report released Thursday, December 14, the World Bank and the United Nations warn of the risk of an economic crisis if Cédéao sanctions are not lifted by the end of January.
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The release which was sighted by security analyst and counter-insurgency expert in the Lakechad region and west Africa Zagazola Makama said people hope that the sanction be lifted so that the West African Nation could revived it economy.
In Niamey, hoping to withdraw some tickets, Ousseni Adamou, who is an official, has been chained back and forth between the counter and his office since 7 a.m. “I wrote down my name, I had the number 75,” he recounts. I went to the office and they went over my number so I re-registered and found the list at 300 numbers. There I got back around 11:30 and they are still at 260. Now the list goes up to 500 something. And there, I was just informed that the machine is out of money and we are waiting for it to be replenished.”
So he’ll have to come back in the afternoon. Withdrawal of his salary has become a puzzle, especially since there is a shortage of tickets, withdrawals are limited to 50,000 CFA per day per person, or 70 euros. Next to a man number 260. He suffers from tooth decay and needs liquid urgently to see a doctor: “Unfortunately, it’s impossible to this look.” I’m forced to postpone this. It’s the same thing everywhere. There’s no such thing as a stable bank.”
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In Niger, Cédéao sanctions hit residents hard where more than 40% live below the poverty line. At Niamey University, economist Ali Rabiou worries about the devastating consequences for the population. “… When there’s cash shortage, when there’s no even flour to make bread, if there’s only one plate of rice remaining in Niger, it will be eaten at the top of the state. She will be served by the new authorities not the population.. ”
In the meantime, the ruling junta continues its truce with ECOWAS. The latter is still demanding the release of the former president, who has been kidnapped by the military since late July, and also a short-term transition.