Koudougou: Twenty-four hours before the Tabaski festival, scheduled for Friday, June 6, 2025, the Koudougou sheep markets are displaying a surprisingly calm atmosphere. Our team went on site to assess the situation, and the conclusion among the sellers is unanimous: the number of customers is currently very low.

According to Burkina Information Agency, sheep sellers in Koudougou have expressed concerns over the low turnout of buyers as the festival approaches. Johanny Yam©ogo, a sheep seller, described the current situation as “really timid,” a sentiment that is shared widely among vendors. Despite the slow start, there is hope that buyers will appear in large numbers on the eve of the festival, traditionally a busy day for sales.

The high price of sheep this year is a major concern for many households. Prices range between 50,000 CFA francs and 250,000 CFA francs, deterring potential buyers. Sellers attribute these high prices to a challenging context characterized by insecurity, which has made sourcing animals more complex and costly. Vendors have had to undertake long journeys to remote regions, including the north and Sahel region of Burkina Faso, and even as far as Niger, to find animals, impacting the overall costs.

Vendors Johanny Yameogo, David Yameogo, and Moctar Zongo have all noted the difficulties faced in attracting customers in the current market conditions. They remain hopeful for a successful day of sales on Thursday, June 5, anticipating a last-minute rush that would enable them to sell their animals and allow families to celebrate Tabaski in the traditional way.