Madagascar: Rise in food prices; protests likely

Event

The steady rise of the price of food and other essential goods (sugar, flour, oil, coffee, and soap, etc.) in Madagascar is contributing to mounting tensions across the country. The Garduc, Madagascar's consumer association, accuses food wholesalers and importers of deliberately hoarding stocks of food in warehouses to benefit from later price hikes, and has called on the government to take appropriate measures to address the issue. This situation is likely to incite protests among frustrated citizens in the coming weeks.

Context

Over the past seven months, the southern region of Madagascar has been experiencing a major food crisis following three consecutive years of drought. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), low rainfall due to the El Niño phenomenon has led to a significant decrease in agricultural production. Approximately 850,000 are in need of emergency food aid.

Advice

Individuals in Madagascar are advised to keep abreast of the situation and to avoid any protests.