In Chad, anger does not abate after the 40% increase in gasoline prices (to 730 CFA francs per liter) and 18% for diesel (to 828 CFA francs per liter). A six-day strike, starting Tuesday, February 20, was voted by worker representatives.
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This strike aims to denounce this price increase, but also the way in which it was announced, even though discussions had just ended with the government.
Contacted by RFI, Michel Barka, president of the Union of Trade Unions of Chad (UST) shares the workers’ reaction. “ It was just after our discussions that the measures to increase fuel prices were taken. Naturally, you know, the reaction of the workers was very, very harsh. We tried to summarize it around a strike which begins on the 20th, but, in reality, they wanted to take action, try to go further to demand that the government immediately review its prices, that it lower prices at old prices. »
“The workers were very, very disappointed and did not want to wait another two, three days. They immediately decided on the strike which will actually take place, starting Tuesday [20 février]. And there, as it is, the government has no other choice but to revise, revise these prices immediately downwards. At the end of this week-long strike, there will be a general assembly to make the strike indefinite, with other protest actions. But if tomorrow the government tells us that it is canceling the decision that was taken, there is no reason for a strike to be called. », specifies Michel Barka.