Algeria plans to import one million sheep to stabilize prices ahead of Eid al-Adha, addressing high demand and inflation amid ongoing drought. The move aims to ease financial strain on citizens and prevent social unrest.

Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has announced plans to import one million sheep ahead of this year’s Eid al-Adha, the significant Muslim holiday during which families around the world purchase livestock for sacrifice.

To ensure stable prices and meet the soaring demand, President Tebboune has instructed his ministers to launch a large-scale livestock import initiative. This measure is part of a broader strategy aimed at addressing public frustration over rising costs. Eid al-Adha is scheduled to take place in June this year.

The initiative follows previous government efforts to ensure the availability of essential food staples during Islam’s holy month of Ramadan. However, the sheer scale of this latest move is unprecedented.

North Africa is currently experiencing its seventh consecutive year of extreme heat and below-average rainfall, a crisis that has significantly impacted food production and livestock farming.

In Algeria, the prolonged drought has led to poor harvests and an increase in the cost of animal feed, which is essential for raising livestock. This has particularly affected sheep breeders in the northern Algerian highlands, where sheep are highly valued for their quality.

Traditionally, Algeria’s government has played a central role in the economy and has previously imported livestock in small quantities to make sheep more affordable for low-income citizens.

For instance, last year, authorities facilitated the sale of 100,000 sheep through state-run stores, sourcing them from countries such as Argentina, Australia, Brazil, and Spain.

Eid al-Adha, which will take place in early June, is an annual “feast of sacrifice” observed by Muslims worldwide. During the holiday, sheep are slaughtered in remembrance of a passage in the Quran where the Prophet Ibrahim prepared to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God, who intervened and replaced the child with a sheep.

This religious tradition is widely practiced in Algeria, a Muslim-majority nation, but it has become increasingly expensive.

During last year’s Eid, sheep prices soared to 200,000 Algerian dinars ($1,496) in some markets—an amount nearly ten times the country’s minimum wage.

As a result, many Algerians have been unable to afford the annual sacrifice in recent years. The government’s new plan aims to prevent further price hikes and shortages that could put this deeply cherished tradition out of reach for many families.

The Ministries of Agriculture and Trade have been instructed to immediately begin sourcing sheep from international markets to meet the president’s ambitious target. The primary goal is to counteract soaring inflation, which has made basic goods and services—including meat—too expensive for many citizens.

Algerians have already noticed improvements in market conditions. “Thank God, this year’s Ramadan is a blessing. The markets are well-stocked, housewives can shop without stress, without pressure. Products are available, and prices are accessible,” said Yasmine Zireg, a mother of three, on Monday.

History has shown that food price inflation can spark significant political unrest in North Africa. In response, Algeria is not the only country taking proactive measures ahead of Eid al-Adha.

Just ten days before Algeria’s announcement, neighboring Morocco also implemented measures to address the rising cost of the holiday.

On February 27, King Mohammed VI issued a statement on state-run television, acknowledging that the ritual slaughter could place a financial strain on low-income Moroccans. As Morocco’s highest religious authority, he declared that they could forgo the sacrifice this year if it became an economic burden.

The Moroccan king’s decision, which received widespread media coverage in Algeria, raised concerns about its potential impact on livestock producers. It also underscored the growing economic disparity between those who can afford sheep and those who cannot.

Tebboune’s intervention is designed to make Eid more accessible to Algerians struggling with rising costs. The large-scale sheep import is one of several government spending initiatives aimed at preventing social unrest and easing financial pressure on citizens.

By implementing this measure, the Algerian government hopes to maintain stability while ensuring that families can participate in this important religious tradition without undue financial hardship.