URGENT ACTION

DETAINED ONLINE ACTIVIST ALLEGES TORTURE IN PRISON

Soro Tangboho alias Carton noir, an outspoken online activist, was arbitrarily arrested on 8 November 2018 in the town of Korhogo (the north of the country). He was detained and subjected to torture and other ill-treatment for while live streaming a video on Facebook showing police officers who were, according to him, extorting money from motorists. He has been accused of disrupting public order. Soro Tangboho is currently hospitalized at the MACA prison clinic. 

TAKE ACTION: WRITE AN APPEAL IN YOUR OWN WORDS OR USE THIS MODEL LETTER

M. Sansan Kambilé
Minister of Justice and Human Rights
Imm. Symphonie - Rue du commerce (ex- CNA), Abidjan, plateau. 
01 BP 2020 Abidjan 01 
Fax: +225) 20 32 08 81

Dear Minister Sansan Kambilé, 

I am concerned about the arrest of online activist Soro Tangboho alias Carton Noir in Cote d’Ivoire. Soro Tangboho was arbitrarily arrested in the town of Korhogo (north of the country) on 8 November 2018 for while live streaming a video on Facebook of police officers who were, according to him, extorting money from motorists. While in detention at Korhogo police station, he was subjected to torture and other ill-treatment. After spending two nights at the police station, he was transferred to the Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DST) where he spent his first night of detention with his hands cuffed behind his back.
   
He was then transferred on 16 November 2018 to the Abidjan Correctional Facility and Penitentiary (MACA) and is accused of disrupting public order.  

Soro Tangboho has been hospitalized at the MACA prison clinic since 22 January. However, the clinic at the prison is not well equipped. 

I urge you to ensure that: 

-	Charges against Soro Tangboho alias Carton Noir are dropped and that he is immediately and unconditionally released;
-	A prompt, thorough, effective and independent investigation into the allegations of Soro Tangboho’s torture in detention is undertaken and that anyone suspected to be responsible is brought to justice in trials that meet international standards of fairness; 
-	The right to freedom of expression is fully respected, protected, promoted and fulfilled. 

Yours sincerely,

Additional information

Outspoken online activist Soro Tangboho alias Carton Noir was arbitrarily arrested while he was streaming live on Facebook police officers who were, according to him, extorting money from motorists. He was beaten during the arrest. 

Since his detention, Soro Tangboho has been in poor health. 

This case is part of the wave of repression targeting activists for several months now in Côte d’Ivoire. 

In the lead up to the 2020 presidential election, violations of the right to freedom of expression risk not only weakening social peace, but also hindering the right to accessing and disseminating information in a tense political climate.

PREFERRED LANGUAGE TO ADDRESS TARGET: French
You can also write in your own language.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: 19 03 2019 
Please check with the Amnesty office in your country if you wish to send appeals after the deadline.

NAME AND PREFFERED PRONOUN: Soro Tangboho alias Carton Noir (he/his)

LINK TO PREVIOUS UA: None

Additional TARGETS

And copies to:

President of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire  
M. Alassane Ouattara 
Place de la République 
Plateau - 01 BP 1354 Abidjan 01 
Cote d’Ivoire 
Fax: +225) 20 22 54 70 

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. HIS EXCELLENCY MR GEORGES ABOUA, Embassy of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, 2 Upper Belgrave Street SW1X 8BJ, 020 7235 6991, Fax 0207 259 5320, TELEX 23906 Ivory Coast Please check with your section before sending appeals after the above date.