According to the information that the ITUC received, the trade union leader was taken from his home by members of the Republican Forces of Côte d’Ivoire (FRCI). His house was ransacked and all his property was taken. The ITUC has not received any news of Basile Mahan Gahé since his arrest. The trade union’s offices, which were also ransacked, are now being occupied by security forces. The general secretary of the Federation of Autonomous Trade Unions (FECASI) judged it necessary to leave the country.

The ITUC has been closely monitoring the events that have been unfolding in Côte d’Ivoire in recent months. While the International Trade Union Confederation is glad that justice and democracy triumphed in the end, it cannot accept the violent actions being perpetrated by security forces. In a letter to the country’s authorities, the ITUC urges President Outtara to continue doing everything in his power to ensure the reconciliation and reunification of the country and the immediate release of Basile Mahan Gahé.

“We will continue to keep a close eye on the situation in Côte d’Ivoire,” said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow. “Côte d’Ivoire is under obligation to guarantee fundamental rights for everyone. Trade union organisations must be able to carry out their legitimate mission of defending workers.”