Niger businesses struggle to make ends meet in wake of coup
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00:00 "Nyame's traders have spent over three months struggling to keep their business afloat.
00:06 That's meant working around sanctions brought in by regional group ECOWAS following July's
00:11 military coup in Niger."
00:14 ECOWAS is powerless.
00:16 In other words, the border between Nigeria and Niger is out of control.
00:21 On the other hand, in Benin, using the river to transport goods is risky.
00:25 This week, canoes carrying merchandise sank.
00:27 Overall, today, the majority of our supplies come through Nigeria.
00:32 "While it's certainly a struggle to smuggle fruits and vegetables into the country, it's
00:38 the cold, hard cash that's hardest to come by.
00:42 The Central Bank of West African States, the BCEAO, has shut its doors and died back its
00:47 operations.
00:48 In response, Niger's military authorities are hoping a cashless revolution can compensate
00:54 for the lack of banknotes.
00:56 Thousands of digital payment terminals have been handed out to businesses."
01:00 "We've been using the machine in our shop for about three weeks now.
01:05 It's very useful.
01:06 Given the situation in Nyame, it's tough to move around with cash.
01:13 It makes everything easier.
01:16 It's really going to become widespread.
01:19 But step by step, since people are not used to it.
01:23 With time, though, people will adopt it."
01:26 But in a country where internet penetration is currently under 23 percent, many don't
01:31 have the option of making the switch to cashless transactions.
01:35 "These are urban solutions, but in my opinion, they won't be effective in rural areas.
01:42 This embargo has led to noticeable inflation.
01:46 Commodities are not only hard to come by, but also it's the prices.
01:49 A few traders managed to bring their goods into Niger through Burkina's border, but we
01:53 notice a surge in the prices of these products."
01:57 Even if some Nigerians have managed to navigate the latest economic challenges, the most vulnerable
02:03 are being hit hardest by the shortages caused by ECOWAS' sanctions.
02:07 The governments asked West Africa's regional court to order the lifting of the penalties.
02:12 The hearings have adjourned until December 7.