Latest news with #Bayero
Kuwait Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Istanbul's ‘suitcase trade' stalls as Africa merchants face crackdown
Informal shipping scene now facing growing pressure ISTANBUL: Porters roam the narrow streets of Laleli in central Istanbul carrying parcels ready for shipment to customers all over the world. The maze of alleys that lead down to the Sea of Marmara have long been the centre of the 'suitcase trade' to sub-Saharan Africa, a route through which merchants carry goods back and forth in their baggage. But Laleli's informal shipping scene, once a bustling hub of cross-continental trade, is now facing growing pressure from rising costs and tougher residency rules imposed by Turkish authorities. African traders, who helped drive demand for Turkish goods through the 'kargo' system - small-scale shipping services between Turkish wholesalers and buyers across Africa - say business has slumped, even as official export figures continue to rise. Facing pressure While some still make round trips, most trade now moves through shipping services. For agents like Fadil Bayero - a Cameroonian who runs a kargo business that ships clothing, cosmetics and home textiles from Turkey to clients across Africa - business is slow. Turkish products have a very good reputation in Africa, he said. 'Before this room was filled to the ceiling. Today it is half-empty,' the 39-year-old said. Like many Africans in the neighborhood, he claimed that shipments have dropped, even as Turkish exports to Africa have generally soared - from $11.5 billion (10.1 billion euros) in 2017 to $19.4 billion last year. Turkish textiles, once known for their affordability, have grown more expensive in recent years. Merchants say inflation - above 35 percent since late 2021 - has pushed African buyers toward cheaper suppliers in China and Egypt. But for Bayero, the explanation lies elsewhere. 'It's not inflation that's the problem, it's the arrests. Many people have been deported,' he said. 'Everything is empty' Since 2022, Turkey's migration policy has toughened, with the authorities blocking new residence permit applications in several districts of Istanbul, including Fatih, where Laleli is located. The goal is to limit the proportion of foreigners to 20 percent per neighborhood. 'The stores, the streets, everything is empty now,' said Franck, one of Bayero's colleagues. 'Look out the window - the sellers sit all day drinking tea while waiting for customers.' A few streets away, Shamsu Abdullahi examined his spreadsheets. In his dimly lit room, dozens of bundles are stacked on the white tiled floor, awaiting shipment. Since January, he and his two colleagues have shipped over 20 tons of goods by air freight and filled the equivalent of 15 maritime containers. The Nigerian has also made around 15 round trips to his homeland, bringing 80 kilos (176 pounds) of goods with him on each journey. 'My residence permit expires in two months, and I think the authorities won't renew it,' he said. He and his associates generate over a million euros a year in revenue. 'It's money spent in Turkey that fuels the local economy,' he said. 'Golden age' Historian Issouf Binate, a lecturer at Alassane Ouattara University in the Ivory Coast, said much of the trade is informal, making it hard to track. 'It's difficult to provide figures on the volume of Turkey's exports to Africa because many businesses are informal,' he said. 'Kargos' are 'transitional businesses', with improvised activity shared between friends or family members. Many in Laleli now believe that the golden age of the 'kargo' and suitcase trading is over. 'In one year we went from about three tons of shipments per week to 1.5,' said a young Congolese who has lived in Istanbul for five years and asked not to be named. 'Even if we still manage to find low-cost products, we cannot compete with China,' he added. Arslan Arslan, a Turkish merchant who sells African dresses a few meters away, painted the same picture. 'Before, I had customers from morning to evening... but the authorities sent them back.' Now Arslan searches for his African customers on social media. 'I'm on Telegram, Instagram, Facebook. But here, everything has become expensive,' he said. 'I've lost 70 percent of my revenue in a year.' - AFP
eNCA
3 days ago
- Business
- eNCA
Istanbul's 'suitcase trade' stalls as African merchants face crackdown
Porters roam the narrow streets of Laleli in central Istanbul carrying parcels ready for shipment to customers all over the world. The maze of alleys that lead down to the Sea of Marmara have long been the centre of the "suitcase trade" to sub-Saharan Africa, a route through which merchants carry goods back and forth in their baggage. But Laleli's informal shipping scene, once a bustling hub of cross-continental trade, is now facing growing pressure from rising costs and tougher residency rules imposed by Turkish authorities. African traders, who helped drive demand for Turkish goods through the "kargo" system -- small-scale shipping services between Turkish wholesalers and buyers across Africa -- say business has slumped, even as official export figures continue to rise. - Facing pressure - While some still make round trips, most trade now moves through shipping services. AFP | Yasin AKGUL For agents like Fadil Bayero -- a Cameroonian who runs a kargo business that ships clothing, cosmetics and home textiles from Turkey to clients across Africa -- business is slow. Turkish products have a very good reputation in Africa, he said. "Before this room was filled to the ceiling. Today it is half-empty," the 39-year-old said. Like many Africans in the neighbourhood, he claimed that shipments have dropped, even as Turkish exports to Africa have generally soared -- from $11.5 billion (10.1 billion euros) in 2017 to $19.4 billion last year. Turkish textiles, once known for their affordability, have grown more expensive in recent years. Merchants say inflation -- above 35 percent since late 2021 -- has pushed African buyers toward cheaper suppliers in China and Egypt. But for Bayero, the explanation lies elsewhere. "It's not inflation that's the problem, it's the arrests. Many people have been deported," he said. - 'Everything is empty' - Since 2022, Turkey's migration policy has toughened, with the authorities blocking new residence permit applications in several districts of Istanbul, including Fatih, where Laleli is located. AFP | Yasin AKGUL The goal is to limit the proportion of foreigners to 20 percent per neighbourhood. "The stores, the streets, everything is empty now," said Franck, one of Bayero's colleagues. "Look out the window -- the sellers sit all day drinking tea while waiting for customers." A few streets away, Shamsu Abdullahi examined his spreadsheets. In his dimly lit room, dozens of bundles are stacked on the white tiled floor, awaiting shipment. Since January, he and his two colleagues have shipped over 20 tons of goods by air freight and filled the equivalent of 15 maritime containers. The Nigerian has also made around 15 round trips to his homeland, bringing 80 kilos of goods with him on each journey. "My residence permit expires in two months, and I think the authorities won't renew it," he said. He and his associates generate over a million euros a year in revenue. "It's money spent in Turkey that fuels the local economy," he said. - 'Golden age' - Historian Issouf Binate, a lecturer at Alassane Ouattara University in the Ivory Coast, said much of the trade is informal, making it hard to track. "It's difficult to provide figures on the volume of Turkey's exports to Africa because many businesses are informal," he said. AFP | Yasin AKGUL "Kargos" are "transitional businesses", with improvised activity shared between friends or family members. Many in Laleli now believe that the golden age of the "kargo" and suitcase trading is over. "In one year we went from about three tons of shipments per week to 1.5," said a young Congolese who has lived in Istanbul for five years and asked not to be named. "Even if we still manage to find low-cost products, we cannot compete with China," he added. Arslan Arslan, a Turkish merchant who sells African dresses a few metres away, painted the same picture. "Before, I had customers from morning to evening... but the authorities sent them back." Now Arslan searches for his African customers on social media. "I'm on Telegram, Instagram, Facebook. But here, everything has become expensive," he said. "I've lost 70 percent of my revenue in a year."
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Outcry over emir's summons prompts U-turn from Nigerian police
Nigerian police have withdrawn a summons issued to one of the country's most respected traditional leaders after it was widely condemned. The emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, is engaged in a tussle for the crown with his cousin Aminu Ado Bayero, who is said to enjoy the support of the national government. Prior to the recent Eid al-Fitr celebration, police in Kano banned the annual horse parade, or durbar, fearing trouble between supporters of the rival claimants. However, Sanusi chose to ride on horseback after Eid prayers, accompanied by local vigilantes. This led to clashes between rivals groups which saw one man stabbed to death, prompting the police to order Sanusi to appear at the national police headquarters in the capital, Abuja. However, this prompted an outcry with many Nigerians saying it showed a lack of respect to the emirate, which is one of the oldest institutions in the country. Traditional leaders in Nigeria hold few constitutional powers but are able to exert significant influence as they are seen as custodians of both religion and tradition. In response to the strong reaction against the summons and following the intervention of "respected stakeholders", Nigeria's police chief said that officers would instead go to Kano to obtain Sanusi's statement. Sanusi returned to the Kano throne last year after he was ousted in 2020 for "insubordination'' to the then Kano state government under Abdullahi Ganduje. Sanusi, a former head of Nigeria's central bank, was reappointed by Kano's current Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf last May, and Bayero was sacked after four years as emir. However, some of Bayero's supporters have gone to court, maintaining he is the rightful emir. While Sanusi is living in the emir's official residence, Bayero is residing in one of the emirate's smaller palaces. 'How I survived Nigeria attack that killed my 16 friends' Nigerian pastor acquitted of rape after eight years in South African jail Ex-Shell boss tasked with cleaning up Nigeria's oil sector Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
07-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi: Nigerian police withdraw summons after outcry
Nigerian police have withdrawn a summons issued to one of the country's most respected traditional leaders after it was widely emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, is engaged in a tussle for the crown with his cousin Aminu Ado Bayero, who is said to enjoy the support of the national to the recent Eid al-Fitr celebration, police in Kano banned the annual horse parade, or durbar, fearing trouble between supporters of the rival Sanusi chose to ride on horseback after Eid prayers, accompanied by local vigilantes. This led to clashes between rivals groups which saw one man stabbed to death, prompting the police to order Sanusi to appear at the national police headquarters in the capital, this prompted an outcry with many Nigerians saying it showed a lack of respect to the emirate, which is one of the oldest institutions in the leaders in Nigeria hold few constitutional powers but are able to exert significant influence as they are seen as custodians of both religion and response to the strong reaction against the summons and following the intervention of "respected stakeholders", Nigeria's police chief said that officers would instead go to Kano to obtain Sanusi's returned to the Kano throne last year after he was ousted in 2020 for "insubordination'' to the then Kano state government under Abdullahi a former head of Nigeria's central bank, was reappointed by Kano's current Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf last May, and Bayero was sacked after four years as some of Bayero's supporters have gone to court, maintaining he is the rightful Sanusi is living in the emir's official residence, Bayero is residing in one of the emirate's smaller palaces. More Nigeria stories from the BBC: Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nigerian police ban Kano Eid parade as rival emirs dispute throne
For the second time in a row, police have banned the colourful Durbar festivities that mark Eid celebrations in Kano, northern Nigeria's largest city, as two traditional royals struggle for the throne. Authorities on Friday announced the suspension of the massive horse procession by the traditional emir and his courtiers that celebrates Eid al-Fitr, when Muslims end their Ramadan fasting. The Durbar -- also held each Eid al-Adha, linked to the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca -- attracts visitors from across the region as well as Western tourists, who throng the expanse outside the palace as royals and courtiers display equestrian skills in homage to the emir. But two royals have been locked in a legal battle for the influential traditional seat, polarising support along political lines between the local and federal authorities. This year, rivals Aminu Ado Bayero and Muhammadu Sanusi II had planned competing Durbars, heightening tension in the city over fear of possible violence during the celebrations. "The ban on Durbar activities became necessary after consultations and obtaining the relevant security situation in the state," Ibrahim Bakori, Kano's police chief, told reporters in his office. "The rising tension and uncertainties around the Durbar activities in Kano resulted in the decision," Bakori said. Police previously banned the Durbar in June 2024, citing security concerns amid the feud, but causing outrage among residents in the city. The month prior, Kano state Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had removed Bayero as the emir and returned Sanusi to the throne, four years after he was deposed. The two remain locked in a legal fight over who is the rightful emir, a position that holds no constitutional power in Nigeria but wields huge religious and social influence. To this day, Sanusi lives in the emir's palace, where he holds daily court, while Bayero lodges in a royal guest house a few kilometres (miles) away, where he receives homage from his supporters. Both palaces are heavily guarded by military and police personnel. Sanusi is backed by Yusuf and his opposition New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) which Bayero enjoys the support of the All Peoples Congress (APC)-led central government. - Previous bans rare - Bayero cancelled his plans a day before the police banned the processions. The police ban marks the fourth cancellation of the Durbar in the city in a decade. In 2015, it was cancelled over fears jihadist violence, following a Boko Haram attack the year prior on the central mosque outside the emir's palace that killed around 200 worshippers. In September 2012, the Durbar was suspended for security concerns. Boko Haram had attacked the city the previous January, killing hundreds. The Durbar originated in Kano but is conducted by emirs in various cities across Muslim-majority northern Nigeria. In December last year UNESCO added the celebrations to its intangible cultural heritage list. abu/tba/nro/rmb
