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An Ivorian teacher and union leader who had been sentenced to two years in prison for encouraging a school strike has been released on bail pending an appeal scheduled for June 11, the Court of Appeal in Abidjan confirmed on Wednesday.
Ghislain Duggary Assy was arrested on 3 April and convicted just five days later on charges that included “obstructing the functioning of public service.” His case stems from a strike called by teaching unions demanding the payment of a quarterly incentive bonus. Although the strike began on April 3, it was suspended a week later.
The court has granted Assy provisional release, under conditions that include a travel ban and a requirement to report to the court on the first Monday of each month until the legal process is concluded.
“We are pleased that Ghislain Assy will be reunited with his family this evening,” said his lawyer, Leon-Paul Boto.
Despite the court’s decision, teaching unions remain firm in their stance. Union spokesperson David Bli Ble stated that the strike mandate remains in place, though it is currently suspended. In a video message shared on Facebook, he reaffirmed the unions’ commitment to maintaining pressure on the authorities.
Strikes have been relatively rare in Côte d’Ivoire since the signing of a “social truce” agreement in 2022, which included government promises to improve conditions for civil servants. The current dispute, however, highlights unresolved tensions between the state and education sector unions.
