Market supply challenges persist in northern and eastern parts of the country

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Crisis! (IPC Phase 3!) is expected to persist in January 2026 in Arbinda Municipality¹ in Karo-Peli Province, where household’s food stocks from own production have been exhausted and incomes are too low to meet household needs through market purchases. Food assistance distributions that began in December covered at least 75 percent of the needs of most households, limiting food consumption gaps. Between February and May, in the absence of assistance, marginal incomes (from artisanal gold mining and remittances from relatives) will remain insufficient to purchase food at high market prices, worsening consumption among poor households, which are expected to worsen to Emergency (IPC Phase 4).
Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes are expected to persist in January 2026 in Djibo, Djelgodji Province. The depletion of stocks from households’ own rainfed production and ongoing shortages of staple foods on the market are limiting household access to food. These households continue to reduce both the quantity and quality of food and the number of meals per day (generally to one meal for adults and at least two for children). However, in addition to vegetable production, irrigated sweet potato harvests this year have expanded substantially with support from the government and its partners, providing households with an additional food source. Ongoing food assistance is irregular and insufficient, forcing beneficiaries to share their rations with others. Consumption gaps are expected to persist between February and May, and households will likely remain in Crisis food (IPC Phase 3).
Agricultural commodity markets are well supplied at the national level amid generally typical household demand. Institutional demand remains dominated by ongoing direct government purchases from producers. Restrictions on exports of cereals and other cash crops, along with security constraints affecting the transfer of cereals to deficit areas in the north, are discouraging trader participation. Reduced demand from wholesale and export traders has led to declines in staple food prices. In December, prices were 20-35 percent below last year and 5-15 percent below the five-year average. However, in the north and east — areas facing severe security challenges and where military escorts have facilitated market resupply over the past six months — local supply remains irregular, and prices remain high. Compared with the five-year average, prices increased by up to 36 percent for sorghum in Arbinda, 65 percent for maize in Diapaga, and 52 percent for millet in Sebba.
In December 2025 and January 2026, abuses and threats by armed terrorist groups continued to drive population displacements. Sourou, Bankui, and Goulmou regions were particularly affected, despite ongoing offensives by defense and security forces, supported by Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland, aimed at reclaiming territory. Security incidents continue to disrupt income-generating activities, market supply, and market functioning.

Recommended citation: FEWS NET. Burkina Faso Key Message Update January 2026: Market supply challenges persist in northern and eastern parts of the country, 2026.

Starting in January 2026, FEWS NET began using the new administrative boundaries adopted by the government in June 2025 for country maps. As a result, the new names of regions and provinces will appear on the maps. Although FEWS NET’s food security analysis has not changed, this administrative boundary update results in changes to phase classifications at the area level for Arbinda Municipality, where Crisis! (IPC Phase 3!) outcomes persist in January and Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes are projected from February to May 2026.

This Key Message Update provides a high-level analysis of current acute food insecurity conditions and any changes to FEWS NET's latest projection of acute food insecurity outcomes in the specified geography. Learn more here.