Ivorian government bans nationwide student union activities after clashes

The Ivorian government has issued a statement after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday in the capital Abidjan suspending all student union activities in the country until further notice.

President Alassane Ouattara upon arrival from the African Union Summit in Kigali, Rwanda on Monday evening said the government will put together measures on Wednesday (today) to address the concerns of students and bring peace to the university.

“To protect people and property, the government decided to maintain the security forces on the campus of the Felix Houphouet-Boigny University,” the Minister of Higher Education, Ly Ramata told the media after the weekly ministerial meeting.

She added that the students arrested will be taken through due process and those found innocent after investigations will be released.

Also under the measures taken by the government, philosophy professor Abou Karamoko has been named the new president of the Felix Houphouet-Boigny University according to the 2012 decree which allows for appointment of university presidents, the minister added.

Many students and police officials were injured and property damaged when students on Monday, led by their students’ union, protested against poor conditions on the university’s campus, the arrest of some students and police presence at the university in the Ivorian economic capital Abidjan.

Two cars were reportedly burned, seven damaged and several windows of buildings on the campus were shattered as students threw stones at the police who also fired tear gas.

Scores of students were arrested including a leader of the students’ union since the clashes started.