URGENT ACTION

UNIONIST RELEASED BUT CHARGES STILL PENDING
On 7 May, unionist Ghislain Duggary Assy was granted provisional release from Abidjan Central Prison. However, the charges against him, which are in connection to a call for strike by a coalition of teachers’ unions, are still pending. His case will be reviewed at the Court of Appeal on 11 June and he risks being sent back to prison if the judge decides to confirm the sentencing. Amnesty International urges the Ivoirian authorities to immediately drop all charges against him.

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

Mr Jean Sansan Kambilé
Minister of Justice and Human Rights
Plateau immeuble Symphonie, cité administrative
 tour B 16e et 17e étage
BP V 107 Abidjan
Côte d’Ivoire
Email: minjusticedroitdelhomme@gmail.com
X: @minjustice_dh

Dear Minister,

I welcome the news that unionist Ghislain Duggary Assy was provisionally released from detention on 7 May by the Court of Appeal. However, I remain concerned that the charges against him are still pending.

Ghislain Duggary is prohibited from leaving the country and must report to the Court of Appeal registry every month while waiting for a final decision. His case will be reviewed on 11 June.

On 4 April, Ghislain Duggary Assy was charged with organizing the collective action of civil servants outside the prescribed legal framework and “obstructing the operation of the public service”. He was sentenced to two years imprisonment on 8 April.

Ghislain Duggary Assy’s peaceful action to call for strike to demand, among others, the upgrading of quarterly bonuses for teachers, is not a crime. Amnesty International believes the unionist's charges were solely to undermine the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression and association and workers’ human rights.

I therefore call upon you to ensure that the prosecution of Ghislain Duggary Assy is ended and all charges against him are immediately dropped.

Yours sincerely,

Additional information

On 21 March 2025, in compliance with legal procedure, a notice was sent to the Minister of Education by two inter-union organizations, calling for a strike action in primary and secondary schools in Côte d’Ivoire to demand, among other things, the upgrading of quarterly bonuses for teachers.
The unions, who previously protested in October 2024, say negotiations with authorities have failed to address their concerns. The government of Côte d'Ivoire committed to establishing a committee to address the grievances. However, union members have indicated that this committee has not convened since its formation.
In a statement issued on 5 April, the Ministry of the Public Administration called the strike illegal and threatened to punish the striking teachers. On 8 April, a dozen members of the striking inter-union board were arrested, then released a few hours later.
Ghislain Duggary Assy’s conviction and a dozen arrests following the strike notice sent to the Minister of Education on 21 March 2025 constitute a flagrant violation of workers’ human rights, in particular the rights to freedom of expression, strike and association, guaranteed by the Ivorian Constitution and the human rights and labour treaties including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Côte d’Ivoire is a state party.

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

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: 15 October 2025
Please check with the Amnesty office in your country if you wish to send appeals after the deadline.

NAME AND PRONOUN: Ghislain Duggary Assy (he/his)

LINK TO PREVIOUS UA: www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr31/9286/2025/en/

Additional targets

Her Excellency Mrs Sara Affoue Amani
Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary 
Embassy of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire   
138-140, Buckingham Palace Rd, SW1W 9SA. 
Tel 020 7235 6991   
Fax 020 7259 5320   
E-mail: secretariat.royaumeuni@diplomatie.gouv.ci
TELEX 23906 Ivory Coast    
Monday-Friday 09.30-13.00 & 14.00-17.00 
Salutation: Your Excellency