URGENT ACTION

ONLINE ACTIVIST SENTENCED TO ONE YEAR IN PRISON

Ivoirian online activist, Soro Tangboho alias Carton Noir was sentenced to one year in prison for ‘disturbing the public order’ and ‘incitement to xenophobia’ on 7 June 2019. He was convicted without a lawyer present. He was arbitrarily arrested on 8 November 2018 in Korhogo town. While detained, he was subjected to torture and other ill-treatment.  

NO FURTHER ACTION IS REQUESTED. MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO SENT APPEALS.

Outspoken online activist Soro Tangboho alias Carton Noir was found guilty of ‘disturbing the public order’ and ‘incitement to xenophobia’ by a court on 7 June 2019. He was sentenced to one year in prison without a lawyer present.  He will serve his prison sentence at the Abidjan Correctional Facility and Penitentiary (MACA).

Since his detention, Soro Tangboho has been in poor health and was hospitalized at the MACA prison clinic on 22 January before being transferred back to prison on 13 February. 

Soro Tangboho was arbitrarily arrested on 8 November 2018 while live streaming a video on Facebook showing police officers who were, according to him, extorting money from motorists. He was beaten during the arrest and subjected to torture and other ill-treatment when he was first detained. 

In a letter to Amnesty International, the Minister of Justice and Human Rights said that "contrary to  allegations from Soro Tangboho, he had been the subject of an investigation for online acts of incitement to public disorder, defamation, incitement to racism and xenophobia since 2017 by the National Police Section in charge of combating terrorism and cybercrime." Amnesty International has not received any details supporting the Minister’s claim.

On 3 June 2019, two police officers visited Soro Tangboho and questioned him, without the presence of his lawyer, about information he had shared about the conditions of his arrest and detention. This visit was after the Interior Minister reportedly received a letter from Amnesty International Germany concerning the detention of Soro Tangboho. 

Local activists who have campaigned for Soro Tangboho’s release have expressed appreciation for Amnesty International’s contribution in raising his profile and case internationally to mount international pressure on the Ivoirian authorities to release him. 

Amnesty International continues to monitor Soro Tangboho’ situation and will respond to any developments as appropriate. No further action is requested from the UA network. Many thanks to all who sent appeals.

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

THIS IS THE FIRST AND FINAL UPDATE FOR UA 14/19

LINK TO PREVIOUS UA: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr31/9772/2019/en/