TUC demands release of imprisoned trade union leader in Côte d'Ivoire

HE Claude Stanislaus Bouah-Kamon

Ambassador for the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire

Embassy of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire

2 Upper Belgrave Street

SW1X 8BJ

Dear Ambassador

On behalf of the TUC General Council, I write to express our deep concern over the continued imprisonment of Mr Basile Mahan Gahé, General Secretary of the Ivorian trade union confederation (DIGNITE), affiliated to the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and demand his immediate release.

The imprisonment of trade unionists is a violation of the ILO Declaration of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. Moreover, your country, which ratified Convention 98(1961) and Convention 87 (1960), is obliged to observe the workers' rights enshrined in them. The ITUC and the International Labour Office (ILO) have sent missions to Abidjan where they met with several government ministers and called for the release of the imprisoned trade unionist. I should also like to point out that the 2012 ILO Report of the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations examined the case of Mahan Gahé, condemned his arbitrary imprisonment for over one year now and called for his release. The continued imprisonment of Mr Gahé constitutes a clear breach of the assurances on peace and reconciliation given by your president and will, no doubt, tarnish the image of your country and aggravate the current difficulties, making national dialogue and reconciliation even more difficult.

We urge you to pass on our deep concern over Mr Gahé's safety and well-being to your Government, and use your influence with the Ivorian authorities to ensure that he is released without further delay and allowed to exercise his rights in his capacity as general secretary of his union without interference from the State.

Yours sincerely

Brendan Barber

General Secretary