Mauritania: Towards reduction of prices of certain staple foods

The Mauritanian Ministry of Commerce announced a new memorandum of understanding with the Federation of Commerce, aimed at lowering the prices of essential foodstuffs. This agreement seeks to alleviate the financial strain on Mauritian consumers by stabilizing the cost of basic groceries amid challenging economic conditions.

According to the Ministry’s statement, the new pricing concerns sugar, rice, edible oil, wheat, and condensed milk.

The Ministry explained that this initiative is part of a broader government’s effort to counteract rising food prices and enhance the purchasing power of Mauritian citizens. The aim is to ease the economic burden on households during a period of financial difficulty.

Mauritania, like many Sahelian countries, is grappling with significant challenges due to adverse weather conditions. The rainy season has intensified, causing substantial impacts on agriculture, livelihoods, and mobility. Despite forecasts of increased rainfall this year, which could potentially lead to surplus production, the current harvests have been adversely affected. Consequently, the country faces a reliance on food imports to meet its needs, with the high cost of produce remaining a pressing concern for the population.