OUAGADOUGOU – During a speech on May 1, International Labor Day, Burkina Faso’s Minister of Labor, Bassolma Bazié, addressed the continued exploitation of Africa’s natural and human resources. Bazié emphasized the historical and ongoing extraction of mining, forestry, and labor resources by colonial and neocolonial powers.
According to Burkina Information Agency, this exploitation has been sustained through a veneer of democracy, where so-called African leaders act as proxies for colonial interests, facilitating the unregulated sale and degradation of African resources. He criticized these leaders for perpetuating a system that plunges workers into severe hardship and for allowing cultural and educational values to be compromised.
The minister also pointed to the broader implications of these practices, highlighting how they contribute to geopolitical instability and the undermining of state security. He linked the manipulation of African leaders by former colonial powers to the rise of terrorism in the Sahel region.
Additionally, Bazié commented on the global context of these issues, noting the impact of international conflicts and economic policies on Africa. He expressed concern over the ineffectiveness of international organizations like the United Nations in addressing these crises.
The commemoration of International Labor Day by Bazié underscored the challenges facing workers globally, particularly in Africa, where the legacy of exploitation continues to affect social and economic conditions.