ARREST AND DETENTION OF BASILE MAHAN GAHE, GENERAL SECRETARY OF DIGNITE (Côte d’Ivoire)

ITUC-Africa was informed about the arrest and detention of Brother Basile Mahan Gahé, General Secretary of DIGNITE, one of its affiliates in Côte d’Ivoire, in May.

Following this arrest, the General Secretary wrote to President Allassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire enquiring about Brother Mahe’s conditions of detention and requesting a formal communication on the charges brought against the trade union leader.

In his letter, Brother Kwasi Adu-Amankwah said that official information on the situation of Brother Basile Mahan Gahé should be provided to him in the shortest possible time. In case he is in detention, the charges preferred against him should be communicated to him and he should be given the possibility to choose a lawyer to defend him. In case there are no charges against him, he should be released without delay.

Furthermore, Brother Kwasi Adu-Amankwah has urged President Allassane Ouattara not to ignore freedom of association in the process of national reconciliation.