On February 20, a judge issued an interim injunction suspending the regular congress that was to oversee leadership renewal at the Union Nationale des Journalistes de Côte d’Ivoire (UNJCI), following a collective lawsuit demanding strict adherence to governing statutes. The UNJCI leadership immediately appealed the decision.
With the statutory deadline looming and the current leadership’s mandate set to expire at midnight on February 26, an extraordinary congress was hastily convened on February 25. Delegates, acting under the organization’s rules, voted to extend existing mandates until the regularly scheduled congress could take place without disruption.
However, tensions flared into violent clashes immediately after the vote, underscoring the volatile climate surrounding the proceedings.
UNJCI President Defends Institutional Continuity
Jean Claude Coulibaly, President of the UNJCI, issued a strong statement: “We accepted the court’s suspension of our 12th ordinary congress, yet we filed an appeal without delay. However, allowing a statutory void to emerge would have gravely weakened our organization. The mandate extension approved in the extraordinary session is a responsible measure to preserve institutional continuity. The UNJCI stands as the unified home of Ivorian journalists—it cannot be undermined or placed under provisional administration.”
International Unions Condemn Violation of Press Freedom
Omar Faruk Osman, President of the Fédération des Associations de Journalistes (FAJ), condemned the interference: “Preventing a union from convening to renew its leadership—and then exploiting that situation to create an institutional vacuum—constitutes a serious breach of press freedom. This flies in the face of Côte d’Ivoire’s commitments to African and international human rights standards. No political authority may dictate or influence the leadership of a journalists’ organization.”
Anthony Bellanger, Secretary-General of the International Federation of Journalists (FIJ), warned of grave consequences: “This is a clear violation of the right to association and a blatant interference in the internal affairs of a union. Together with the FAJ, we will pursue formal complaints through international bodies, including the International Labour Organization, against the Ivorian government for these abuses. The autonomy of journalists’ unions is a cornerstone of international law—and it is non-negotiable.”
Both the FIJ and FAJ have urged Ivorian authorities to uphold the UNJCI’s independence, ensure the safety of its members, and facilitate the upcoming ordinary congress in conditions of transparency, fairness, and peace.”
