In the markets of Niamey, traders and customers are feeling the effects of the heavy economic and financial sanctions imposed on Niger by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) since the takeover by the military in July 2023. Essential food is only coming through convoys of military-escorted trucks that take several weeks to get across the country. When products don’t arrive, they become expensive,' notes market trader Adamou Moussa. According to the World Bank, inflation on food was 10.3% in December 2023. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES