Burundians strike against high fuel, mobile phone costs

Burundi:  Burundians went on strike on Thursday to protest against high fuel costs and the price of their mobile phone bills, bringing the capital Bujumbura to a standstill as the government said the action was illegal.

The government says it has had to raise taxes to seek revenues and cover its expenditures after a significant decrease of donor support to Burundi, caused in part by an economic slowdown in donor countries and concerns over graft and human rights abuses.