Madar (Niamey) - Niger has banned exports of groundnuts under order No. 05-18 of 11 November 2026 issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the state daily Le Sahel reported on Friday, 13 November 2026.
The move follows similar bans on millet, paddy rice, sorghum and maize. Commerce and Industry Minister Abdoulaye Seydou explained its aims at a press briefing on Friday.
The minister said Niger's economic sovereignty depends on its ability to process the raw materials it produces at home, and that the measure is meant to encourage industrialisation and support small local producers. "Exceptional export authorisations may be granted to the countries of the AES Confederation under the stated procedure," he said.
Sworn ministry agents, customs officers and the defence and security forces have been given firm instructions to detect and punish violations. Groundnuts will be systematically seized for the State in any attempted export, under the usual judicial procedure.
Seydou also recalled a decree requiring all public administrations to buy goods produced in Niger, barring them from purchasing foreign-made products when the same goods are made in the country.
He further recalled that imports of motorcycles of 125cc and above and their chassis require a licence, and that their sale requires ministry approval, with sellers obliged to keep a copy of the buyer's ID and the chassis number, in line with recommendations by AES commerce ministers.
The aim, he said, is to build up the country's industrial base and support those processing groundnuts and other products into cooking oil. The source did not give export volumes or the penalties involved.
