Ivory Coast strike over rising fuel prices paralyzes main city

A strike over rising fuel prices paralyzed Ivory Coast’s main city Thursday, leaving parts of the commercial capital of the world’s leading cocoa producer deserted, witnesses and officials said.

A transport strike began Monday in the lagoon-side city of Abidjan, stranding thousands of workers after normally ubiquitous taxis and minibuses stayed off the streets. On Thursday, one of the West African country’s three biggest unions joined in, calling on civil servants and others to stay home until the end of Friday. Many heeded the call, leaving offices in the city center empty.

IHT