Côte d’Ivoire Bans Student Unions Following Reports of Violence and Killings

Côte d’Ivoire’s government has banned all student unions following the deaths of two students, Khalifa Diomandé and Zigui Mars Aubin Déagoué, and the arrest of 17 suspects.

The decision was made on Thursday, October 17, after a confrontation between the police and the student association FESCI, which has ties to influential figures in the country.

The National Security Council (CNS), chaired by President Alassane Ouattara, acted following a raid on student housing controlled by FESCI. Authorities discovered large caches of weapons and uncovered “illegal businesses” within the student housing at the University of Abidjan. They arrested 17 students in connection with the killings in August and September 2024, and evicted over 5,000 individuals illegally residing in university towns like Abidjan, Bouaké, and Daloa.

Among those arrested is FESCI’s general secretary, Sié Kambou, who is suspected of being involved in the killings. Prosecutor Koné Oumar said in a court filing that no crime within FESCI could occur without Kambou’s knowledge. Additionally, officials uncovered a brothel and a torture tunnel allegedly operated by FESCI members at Félix-Houphouët-Boigny University.

FESCI started as a student association in 1990 under President Félix Houphouët-Boigny. However, reports showed that it later became entangled in power struggles and violence, particularly during Laurent Gbagbo’s presidency. Notable former leaders of FESCI, such as Charles Blé Goudé and Guillaume Soro, have been linked to political violence. Blé Goudé was acquitted of crimes against humanity in 2019.

FESCI has denied any involvement in the recent deaths. The union called the government’s actions unconstitutional and stated that their rights to association had been violated. FESCI’s influence remains problematic, however. The group controls much of the student housing in Côte d’Ivoire and reportedly charge high fees for poorly maintained accommodations.

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