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Several thousand people took to the streets of Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou, on Thursday, as workers broke tools during a national strike against the rising price of gasoline.
Gasoline and diesel prices have risen 12% over the past three weeks, prompting a wave of protests.
A local group, the National Coalition Against the Expensive Life (CCVC), has called the strike and protest a march from the Chamber of Commerce to the Ministry of Commerce in the heart of the capital of this African country. 39; West.
"No to the impoverishment of the citizens", read one of the slogans alongside the others: "Bread and freedom for the people".
"Enough, that's enough," said the official Charles Coulibaly, 42.
"We can not cope with what we make and now they are increasing fuel prices, which will make all products and services more expensive."
Another walker, Prosper Zebango, a 36-year-old bookseller, expressed his exasperation.
"Raise the price of gasoline and diesel just as the price of a barrel dwindled and justify it with a so-called international increase?" he asked rhetorically.
"I think the government is showing incompetence."
Since world oil prices peaked in four years in October, they have fallen by about 30%, with worries about falling demand in a slowing global economy have had serious consequences.
In Burkina Faso, gasoline and diesel prices have risen 12% since November 9, with the liter now costing 47 cents per gallon.
The protesters handed over a list of demands to the Minister of Commerce, Harouna Kabore, who promised to forward them to the prime minister.
In addition to repealing the rising price of fuel, they are also demanding the removal of a bill that would restrict the right to strike, said CCVC Vice President Chrisogone Zougmore.
"We are all struggling to improve the living conditions of workers and the general population," Zougmore said.
The government has invoked rising fuel prices in international markets to justify this increase, as well as the need to increase revenues to fight against jihadists operating in the north and east of the country, inactive .
The former French colony, among the poorest countries in the world, has suffered since 2015 jihadist attacks that have claimed the lives of 229 people, according to the latest official report published in late September.
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