URGENT ACTION

UNIONIST’S CONVICTION AND SENTENCING UPHELD
On 16 July, the Abidjan Court of Appeal upheld the conviction and two-year prison sentence of unionist Ghislain Duggary Assy who in April 2025 was convicted for ‘obstructing the operation of the public service’ in connection to a call for strike he joined by a coalition of teachers’ unions. No committal order was issued, so Ghislain Duggary Assy remains free however Amnesty International still urges the Ivoirian authorities to quash Ghislain Duggary Assy’s conviction and end his prosecution.

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 ’Ivoire
Email : minjusticedroitdelhomme@gmail.com
X: minjustice_dh

Dear Minister,

I am writing to express my deep concern for unionist Ghislain Duggary Assy who has been unlawfully prosecuted in connection to his peaceful activism.

Following an appeal process initiated by his lawyers, on 16 July, the Abidjan Court of Appeal confirmed the conviction and two-year sentencing of Ghislain Duggary Assy. His lawyer has filed an appeal against the decision before the Court of Cassation.

On 8 April [, the First Instance Tribunal convicted Ghislain Duggary Assy of organizing the collective action of civil servants outside the prescribed legal framework and “obstructing the operation of the public service”, in connection to him joining a call for strike initiated by a coalition of teachers’ unions, calling among other things, the upgrading of quarterly bonuses. On 8 April, he was sentenced to two years imprisonment. He was provisionally released from detention on 7 May with various conditions on his release, including a prohibition to leave the country. Given that no committal order was issued following the Court of Appeal’s decision on 16 July, Ghislain remains free. But he should never have been convicted in the first place.
 
I therefore call upon you to quash the conviction of Ghislain Duggary Assy, as he has been prosecuted solely because of the exercise of his rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association. I further urge you to respect and protect the right to strike in Cote d’Ivoire.

Yours sincerely,

Additional information

Ghislain Duggary Assy was arrested on the night of 3 April by hooded men at his home after a coalition of teachers’ unions called for a strike on 3 and 4 April, demanding, among other things, the upgrading of quarterly bonuses. 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: 20 February 2026
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/afr31/9392/2025/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