The 20th of February saw a legal twist when a judge granted an injunction filed by a group claiming strict adherence to regulations, halting the scheduled ordinary congress meant to renew key bodies. The Union Nationale des Journalistes de Côte d’Ivoire (UNJCI) promptly filed an appeal to contest the ruling.
With the clock ticking and the existing mandates set to expire on February 26 at midnight, an emergency congress was hastily convened on February 25. To avert a potential institutional void, delegates voted—by the required majority—to extend mandates until the ordinary congress could be held as originally planned. This decision was made strictly in line with the organisation’s statutes.
Post-vote clashes erupted, underscoring the heightened tensions surrounding the affair.
Statements from key figures
Jean Claude Coulibaly, President of UNJCI, shared his perspective: « We acknowledged the court’s decision to suspend our 12th ordinary congress, but we appealed it immediately. Allowing a statutory vacuum would have severely weakened our organisation. The mandate extension approved in the emergency congress was a responsible move to preserve institutional continuity. The UNJCI stands as a united home for Ivorian journalists—it must not be weakened nor subjected to provisional administration. »
Omar Faruk Osman, President of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), weighed in: « Preventing a union from convening to renew its leadership and then attempting to exploit the situation to create an institutional void amounts to a blatant violation of trade union freedom. This runs counter to Côte d’Ivoire’s African and international commitments. No political authority has the right to influence the leadership of a journalists’ organisation. »
Anthony Bellanger, Secretary-General of the International Federation of Journalists (FIJ), added: « This is a serious breach of freedom of association and a clear case of interference in the internal affairs of a union. Alongside the FAJ, we will pursue formal complaints with relevant international and African bodies, including the International Labour Organisation, against the Ivorian government for these abuses. The autonomy of journalists’ unions is guaranteed under international law—and it is non-negotiable. »
The FIJ and FAJ jointly urge Ivorian authorities to uphold the UNJCI’s independence, ensure the safety of its members, and facilitate the timely, transparent, and peaceful convening of the ordinary congress.
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