Re: Côte d'Ivoire – Increased threats against human rights defenders
Front Line, the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, the West
African Human Rights Defenders Network (WAHRDN) and the Ivorian Coalition of Human Rights
Defenders (CIDDH) express their concern at the constant increase of threats and instances of
intimidation against human rights defenders which have occurred in the context of the political crises
which have followed the presidential elections of 28 November 2010. During the last three weeks, at
least twelve human rights defenders and journalists have been threatened, arrested or otherwise
intimidated.
On 17 February 2011, Mr Nahouala Soro, Deputy Secretary-General of the Mouvement Ivoirien des
Droits Humains (MIDH) and responsible for the investigation unit within the same organisation,
received two SMS threatening him with death. The threats, which also targeted his family, were sent
without hiding the sender's number. The first message read as follows: "you and traoré [Drissa Traoré,
MIDH President] you are dead, we're following you". The second message threatened him in the
following terms: "you are a dead man walking, we're telling you again. Death is around you, either a
widow and an orphan or choose to be widower". About ten days earlier, on 6 and 7 February at about
7 pm and 2 pm respectively, Nahouala Soro received two anonymous telephone calls.
Mr Traore Wodjo Fini, President of the Cote d'Ivoire African Union Club (Club UA CI) and General
Coordinator of the Civil Society Coalition for Peace and Democratic Development in Cote d'Ivoire
(COSOPCI), received anonymous death threats by telephone since 14 February 2011. The threats
followed Traore Wodjo Fini's intervention at the World Social Forum, which was held from 6 to 11
February in Dakar, where he spoke about the situation in Cote d'Ivoire.
Ms Véhi Honorine Toure, President of Génération Femme du troisième Millénaire (GF3M), received
telephone calls accusing her of denigrating the country abroad following an interview she did on 4
February for an international NGO working on women's rights, together with Ms Mata Coulibaly,
President of SOS Exclusion.
Some media have also contributed to creating a climate of intimidation against human rights
defenders. The newspaper Notre Voie recently published an article stigmatising human rights
defenders, portraying them as members of the opposition and accusing them of invoking a military
intervention in Cote d'Ivoire. The article, published on 27 January, mentioned Ms Geneviève Diallo,
National Coordinator of the Réseau Paix et Sécurité des Femmes de l'Espace CEDEAO
(REPSFECO), Ms Salimata Porquet, Regional Coordinator of the same network, as well as Ms
Edwige Sanogo, also member of the network.
Several journalists have also been subjected to threats, intimidation and arrest. In the last month, at
least three journalists were arrested and detained and at least four received death threats.
These instances follow a number of other episodes that occurred in December 2010. Following the
being of the political crises, several other human rights defenders were threatened, intimidated or had
their properties destroyed. Mr Drissa Traoré, President of MIDH, received threats and his home was
reportedly under surveillance. Another member of MIDH, Mr Dopali Coulibaly, was victim of an act of
intimidation and his car was vandalised. Mr Armand Behibro Kouadio, member of Amnesty
International Côte d'Ivoire, received death threats from the Fédération Estudiantine et Scolaire de
Côte d’Ivoire (FESCI). Mr Ibrahim Diaby, Secretary-General of Syndicat National des Transports des
Marchandises et des Voyageurs de la Côte d’Ivoire (SNTMVCI), was falsely accused of distributing
machetes at the bus station of Adjamé, following the organisation by SNTMVCI of a strike in the
transport sector.
Front Line, ROADDH and CIDDH urge the authorities in Côte d'Ivoire and the political and
security actors involved to:
1. Immediately cease all acts of intimidation and threats against human rights defenders,
journalists and other members of civil society;
2. Accept their responsibility to ensure effective protection of human rights defenders and their
families;
3. Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders in Cote d'Ivoire are able to carry
out their legitimate and peaceful work in defence of human rights without fear of reprisals and
free of restrictions.
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