Amchide, Cameroon – Muslims in Cameroon are observing Ramadan in the face of serious price hikes for food due to border closures meant to protect against incursions from the Nigerian militant group Boko Haram. Nigeria supplies up to 80% of food in North Cameroon.
In the border town of Amchide, the normal bustling trade with Nigerian businesses is at a standstill.
Local Imam Ibrahim Ahmadou says Cameroon soldiers closed the border just ahead of Ramadan as a security measure against Nigeria’s Boko Haram militants – who have been plaguing this part of Cameroon in recent months with theft, kidnappings, gun running and attacks. He says the problem for his village is Nigeria is the main source of food and traders are nervous.
“Eighty percent of our rice is imported. It is very risky for a businessman to carry [import] rice knowing that there is going to be a problem. Even maize (corn), we also have oil, we have sugar, in fact all the food that Muslims need during the month of Ramadan there is a problem because of this barbaric act of Boko Haram, most businessmen do not want to come in,” said Ahmadou…
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