Coalition of Women in Northern Burkina Faso Opposes Upcoming CGT-B Meeting on Cost of Living

Ouahigouya — A press conference was held on Thursday, October 26, 2023, by the Coalition of Women of the Northern Region in Ouahigouya, the capital of the Northern region, to voice their opposition to the scheduled meeting of the General Confederation of Labor of Burkina (CGT-B). The meeting, slated for October 31, 2023, aims to address the high cost of living in the country.

According to a new release by Burkina Information Agency, the women expressed their support for the Transition in its efforts to regain control of the national territory.

The secretary general of the CGT-B, Moussa Diallo, had announced the meeting on October 14, 2023, with the purpose of discussing the high cost of living in Burkina Faso. However, the Coalition of Women of the Northern Region has publicly opposed this initiative.

Sanata Kaboré/Ouédraogo, the spokesperson for the Coalition, stated that the issue of high cost of living is an international phenomenon and is not unique to Burkina Faso. She questioned the timing of the CGT-B’s proposed meeting, particularly when the government is focused on issues related to national security.

For Kaboré/Ouédraogo, the priority at this time should not be discussions on the cost of living but rather on achieving peace. “We want peace because without peace there are no meetings, press conferences, etc.,” she said. She emphasized that the people of Burkina Faso have been displaced due to insecurity and that now is not the time for such meetings.

She concluded by saying that the Coalition will organize its own meeting to challenge the CGT-B if it proceeds with the scheduled event. According to Kaboré/Ouédraogo, when women are involved, they stop at nothing to achieve their goals.