SIG Sahel

Pastoral Monitoring Bulletin of Mauritania – June-July 2026

Start of the wintering season
Launch of the national aerial seeding campaign and tree week activities
The suspension of cross-border transhumance between Mauritania and Mali remains in effect for security reasons.
Pasture conditions range from deficient to average in several areas
High concentrations of livestock in monitored pastoral areas
Overall, the livestock’s body condition was fair.
Price increases for animals, particularly small ruminants
Suspected cases of davitaminosis and animal diseases, including carnation, botulism, pasteurellosis and small ruminant plague, and enterotoxemia
The terms of the goat/sorghum trade are favorable to livestock farmers in Assaba, Hodh Chargui and Hodh El Gharbi, balanced in Guidimakha, and unfavorable in Brakna and Gorgol.

The introduction of the rainy season is gradually improving access to water and pasture regeneration, but deficits persist in Louga, Matam and Saint-Louis
High concentrations of livestock were observed in Missirah Wadene, Payar, Bondji, Ngabou and Sinthiou Malem due to the return of transhumant herders and the unequal distribution of pastoral resources.
The overall condition of livestock is improving, but remains critical in Dahara-Thiamène, Diwane Thionokh and Niangal-Bokhol
Markets favorable to livestock farmers, with high cattle prices and generally advantageous terms of trade
Cattle thefts in several transhumance areas, notably in Younouféré, Wendou Loumbel and Darou Mousty

Gradual improvement of pastoral resources (pasture and water)
The overall body condition of small ruminants is satisfactory, but deteriorates for large ruminants.
Animal diseases reported (foot-and-mouth disease, avian and small ruminant plague, symptomatic anthrax)
Open and accessible markets, but almost no pastoral support.
Terms of trade are broadly balanced
Livestock feed shortages in some areas
The security situation in Bounkani has deteriorated further.

Progressive degradation of pastures in the areas of Saint-Louis, Louga and Matam, leading to increased pressure on pastoral resources.
Water availability is generally satisfactory thanks to boreholes, rivers, ponds and wells, despite some localized tensions.
The overall body condition of small and large ruminants is fair to good, reflecting a still relatively favorable pastoral situation.
The overall health situation is stable, with localized cases of Baade and distomatosis reported in some localities of Louga and Saint-Louis.
Dynamic livestock markets, with rising prices for small ruminants as Tabaski approaches and terms of trade for goats against millet generally favorable to livestock farmers.

Off-season harvesting continues in the Timbuktu region
Start of agricultural activities for the 2026-2027 rainy season
Lower water levels in the Niger River are boosting fishing activities in the Timbuktu region.
Degradation of vegetation cover with exposed pastures rated as average to poor in Timbuktu and fair to poor in Taoudenni
The epizootic situation is calm in both regions.
Deterioration of the livestock’s body condition, assessed as average to fair in Timbuktu and fair to poor in Taoudenni
A downward trend in average prices of rice and millet on consumer markets
A worrying nutritional and health situation persists across both regions.
Movements of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) reported in both regions

The suspension of cross-border transhumance between Mauritania and Mali remains in effect for security reasons.
Pasture deficient to moderate in several monitoring areas
High concentrations of livestock in the monitored areas
Overall, the livestock’s body condition was fair.
Suspected cases of vitamin deficiency and animal diseases, including sheeple, pasteurellosis and peste des petits ruminants
Price increases for livestock feed and animals
The terms of the goat/sorghum trade are favorable to agropastoral households in Assaba, Hodh Ech Chargui and Hodh El Gharbi, and balanced in Brakna, Guidimakha and Gorgol.

Degradation of vegetation cover and pastoral resources at the national level, particularly in the Koulikoro region
The security situation has deteriorated, with a resurgence of cattle rustling in the Gao and Mopti regions.
Significant reduction in the areas affected by bushfires
Satisfactory market accessibility and favorable terms of trade for livestock farmers in most of the monitored localities
Low level of support for the pastoral sector reported during the period

Pastoral transition with a heterogeneous situation depending on the sites monitored in terms of pastures and water
Livestock feed shortages at more than half of the monitored sites
Cereal prices are up compared to the last two months, but down compared to last year.
Sharp increase in small ruminant prices compared to the last two months
Terms of trade generally favorable