Basile Mahan Gahé passes away

It is with great sadness that the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has learned of the death of brother Basile Mahan Gahé, general secretary of the DIGNITE trade union confederation of Côte d’Ivoire.

The passing of Basile is undoubtedly a great loss not only for the trade union movement of Côte d’Ivoire but also for the African and the international trade union movement.

His massive contribution to the defence of workers’ interests in his country and beyond, through the positions he held within the WCL (now ITUC) and on the Governing Body of the ILO and ITUC-Africa, will not be forgotten.

Over recent years, Basile had become the target of adversity in his own country, in spite of his poor state of health. He was arrested in April 2011 by the Ivorian government and held for almost two years in Bondiali prison (700 km from Abidjan). The international trade union movement rallied in his support and untiringly denounced his arbitrary imprisonment until he was finally released at the end of December 2012.

Seeing him back at the International Labour Conference in Geneva in June of this year was a happy occasion for all. He was his usual jovial self, greeting and thanking everyone for the strong show of solidarity they had given him during his detention.
Today, he has departed from us, unexpectedly, leaving a void that will be difficult to fill.
The ITUC extends its most heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and colleagues, and expresses every sympathy with them at this difficult time.

May he rest in peace.