Morocco, Rabat, April 13, 2025
The General Secretariat of the International Federation of Teachers’ Unions (FISE), affiliated to the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), is monitoring the strike in Côte d’Ivoire, launched on April 3, 2025, by the Inter-Union of Education Unions. It began as a 48-hour strike, but the strike has been extended several times, as the Ivorian government:
– Has not opened negotiations with the education unions;
– Threatened to dismiss all striking teachers starting Monday, April 7, if they do not return to work. – Detained trade unionists since April 3rd, including comrade Dugarri Assy, a teacher, who was abducted around 1:00 a.m. from his home in front of his wife and children. Since Monday, April 7th, he has been detained at the Abidjan MACA Prison for two years in prison following a summary trial, charged with organizing a gang to disrupt public service and order, which is what the authorities are accusing him of..!!;
– Detained, under arrest warrant, seven trade unionists from the Confédération Syndicale Espoir CSE on Monday, April 7th, including comrade Gre Anicet, Regional Secretary of the CSE, who were apprehended by the Korhogo police. They were released on Friday, April 11th;
– Apprehended and quickly released, on Tuesday, April 8, the main national leaders leading the strike movement.
– Arrested several union officials in several localities;
And in the context of the restrictions and bans imposed by the Ivorian government on the right to strike of education workers and their unions, the General Secretariat of the World Federation of Teachers’ Unions (FISE WFTU) expresses its firm condemnation of this reactionary attack on trade union freedoms and declares its unconditional solidarity with the demands of education workers in Côte d’Ivoire. It demands the opening of direct negotiations with the education unions involved in this legitimate protest movement, as well as the immediate release of all detained trade unionists and the cessation of all prosecutions and legal proceedings.
Long live the unity of education workers!
Long live international solidarity!
Victory to the Ivorian teachers’ movement! In unity and struggle,
FISE- WFTU Secretary General
Drissi Abderrazzak
