Côte d’Ivoire: Unionist’s Conviction And Sentencing Upheld

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.