The Union of Wholesale Fishmongers of Côte d'Ivoire (UMAG-CI) has written an open letter to President Alassane Ouattara, dated October 27, 2026, warning of a crisis in the country's fishing industry. The organization cites the surge in fish prices, alleged non-compliance with the 2022 decree capping the price of tuna, and controversy surrounding the appointment of the president of the Interprofessional Agricultural Organization (OIA) for Fishing. UMAG-CI is seeking urgent intervention from the President to address these issues and protect the purchasing power of the population.
According to UMAG-CI, the situation in the fishing industry is causing concern among stakeholders, with the organization claiming that speculative practices and irregularities in the designation of the OIA Fishing president are contributing to the crisis. The letter, signed by UMAG-CI President Kramo Serge Alain, highlights the persistence of these issues and their impact on the sector's stability and the availability of fish to consumers. The organization is calling for the President's intervention to restore legality in the governance of the fishing industry and better regulate the marketing of fish products.
One of the main grievances raised by UMAG-CI is the alleged non-compliance with the 2022 decree setting a price cap on tuna. The organization claims that some actors operating at Abidjan's fishing port have not respected this measure, leading to price hikes and speculation that have affected other fish species, such as mackerel and chinchard. UMAG-CI argues that this situation has weakened the sector's balance and complicated the supply of affordable fish products to markets.
The controversy surrounding the governance of the OIA Fishing organization is another key issue raised by UMAG-CI. The organization claims that an assembly of stakeholders was held on March 18, 2023, in Abidjan, during which Mamadou Bakayoko was elected president of the OIA Fishing board of directors. However, UMAG-CI alleges that the meeting was arbitrarily suspended by certain members of the Ministry of Animal and Fisheries Resources (MIRAH) cabinet. A second assembly was held on August 3, 2023, during which Kassogué Daouda, alias Moumouni, was designated as the organization's head, a decision contested by UMAG-CI.
UMAG-CI disputes the legitimacy of Kassogué Daouda's appointment, arguing that he does not belong to any of the professional families that make up the OIA Fishing, as defined by the relevant texts. The organization questions the conformity of the process that led to his designation and suggests that these maneuvers may be aimed at preserving the interests of certain sector actors. These allegations require confrontation with the applicable texts and explanations from the persons and institutions concerned.
The consequences of this crisis, according to UMAG-CI, go beyond governance and price-fixing issues. The organization highlights the situation of women fishmongers, processors, garba sellers, and young people who depend on fishing-related activities for their income. The difficulties affecting the sector could exacerbate the challenges faced by these professional categories, whose activities rely on the availability of fish and economically viable supply conditions.
UMAG-CI is requesting President Ouattara's personal and urgent intervention to address these issues. The organization has made four key demands: implementing the 2022 tuna price cap, investigating the circumstances surrounding the March 18 and August 3, 2023 assemblies, annulling acts taken in alleged violation of agricultural interprofessional organization regulations, and stricter regulation of the fishing industry to preserve consumer purchasing power and reinforce Côte d'Ivoire's food sovereignty.
Key points
- The UMAG-CI has appealed to President Alassane Ouattara to intervene in the crisis affecting Côte d'Ivoire's fishing industry, citing rising fish prices and governance issues.
- The organization disputes the legitimacy of Kassogué Daouda's appointment as head of the OIA Fishing, arguing that he does not belong to any of the professional families that make up the organization.
- UMAG-CI's demands include implementing the 2022 tuna price cap and stricter regulation of the fishing industry to preserve consumer purchasing power and reinforce Côte d'Ivoire's food sovereignty.
