Burkina Faso prime minister warns of disaster, as workers go on strike

Burkina Faso Prime Minister Paul Kaba Thieba on Friday warned that the ongoing string of strikes would lead the country "straight to disaster".

"One cannot rule a country when everybody goes on strike, which leads us straight to disaster,"the prime minister said in his state of nation address on Friday before the Parliament.

The alarm comes four months after the general elections that ended the one-year political transition in the country.

In the last few days, many workers'unions have threatened to paralyze the country with strike actions.

The unions accuse the government of attempting to undermine the achievements reached during the transitional period that followed former President Blaise Compaore's resignation.

"We have a historic opportunity. Let us build on it and make the sacrifices needed," the prime minister stressed.

He called on concerted efforts to implement economic policies that are relevant to emerge the country from under-development and poverty.

Thieba noted the government would not go into debt to pay wages, adding as head of the government, his main purpose is to restore balance to the country's fiscal system.

Source: XINHUA