45 protesters receive suspended prison sentences for peaceful sit-in

Peaceful Assembly

45 protesters receive suspended prison sentences

On 28th December 2022, 45 people and members of the Collective des Docteurs Non-Recrutés were sentenced to suspended prison sentences of four months after they were found guilty of disturbance of public order by the Court of Plateau in Abidjan. The 45, holders of doctorates who protested against their unemployment, were reportedly arrested during a sit-in on 21st December 2022. Another person, who voluntarily joined the 45 arrested protesters in the police vehicle, was acquitted.

Four civil society activists arrested during peaceful protest

According to Front Line Defenders, four activists and members of the CSO Urgences Ivoriennes, were arrested during a peaceful protest against the rising cost of living in Abidjan on 25th November 2022. A few days later, on 28th November 2022, the four - Kipré Pacome, Diangoné Bi Roland, Dolé Anicet and Séry Romauld - were transferred to the Central Prison of Abidjan, awaiting their hearing on 9th December.

Urgences Ivoriennes is a network of CSOs working on human rights, civil liberties, democracy and peace.

Expression

Journalist placed under judicial supervision over corruption reporting

On 5th October 2022, a judge in Abidjan placed journalist and managing editor of the daily Le Panafricain, Barthélémy Téhin, under judicial supervision following a defamation complaint by the customs administration over the newspaper’s reports on alleged corruption involving a customs officer. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), who spoke with Téhin, the judicial supervision is for an unspecified time pending further investigations by the judge. Téhin is to appear every 15 days before the judge and needs permission from the judge to leave Abidjan.