Côte d’Ivoire

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.