Ouagadougou — Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, Me Apollinaire Kyelem de Tambèla, on Monday criticized certain unions for their absence in past struggles and accused them of now using “pseudo-revolutionary” language to mislead the population.

According to Burkina Information Agency, during a color-raising ceremony at his institution on Monday morning, the unions have become active critics of the government’s policies, especially after a failed coup d’état that he attributed to certain elements within the military who felt “untouchable.”

The Prime Minister rebuked the unions for not supporting the government’s initiative to deduct 1% of salaries to finance the war effort and for condemning the new taxes imposed on imported goods to support the fight against terrorism.

Kyelem de Tambèla pointed out that these taxes did not affect local products like the Yempoaka dolo canary, peanuts, or pancakes from local markets, which he said are being supported and whose prices are falling.

The Prime Minister highlighted economic improvements, noting that the inflation rate dropped from 14.1% in 2022 to 1.2% in 2023 and that the growth rate increased from 1.2% in 2022 to 4.4% in 2023, with predictions for 2024 around 6.4%.

He emphasized that those choosing to reside in Burkina Faso but desiring Western living standards must be willing to pay the higher prices or relocate to the West.

Furthermore, Kyelem de Tambèla asserted that the landscape of organized forces in Burkina Faso has changed, with civil society emerging as a third pillar alongside the army and unions, active since 2011. He credited civil society with the ousting of Blaise Compaoré in October 2014 and with opposing the coup attempt by General Gilbert Diendiere in September 2015.

The Prime Minister concluded by underscoring that the younger generation is determined to prevent imperialism and its local agents from perpetuating their crimes in Burkina Faso.