{"id":2356860,"date":"2024-10-18T18:22:59","date_gmt":"2024-10-18T22:22:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/student-unions-dissolved-following-police-raid-in-ivory-coast-arrest-of-17-suspects\/"},"modified":"2024-10-18T18:25:36","modified_gmt":"2024-10-18T22:25:36","slug":"student-unions-dissolved-following-police-raid-in-ivory-coast-arrest-of-17-suspects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/student-unions-dissolved-following-police-raid-in-ivory-coast-arrest-of-17-suspects\/","title":{"rendered":"Student Unions Dissolved Following Police Raid in Ivory Coast, Arrest of 17 Suspects"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fstudent-unions-dissolved-following-police-raid-in-ivory-coast-arrest-of-17-suspects%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2356860&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The government of\u200d Ivory Coast has imposed a ban on all student unions following the deaths of two students and the arrest of 17 individuals linked to a student association with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/proterra-founder-gets-one-on-one-interview-with-biden-pentagon-official\/\" title=\"Proterra Founder Gets One-on-One Interview With Biden Pentagon Official\">significant political connections<\/a>. This decision was made after a government raid on premises controlled by the FESCI student union, which allegedly revealed an extensive arsenal of weapons and illegal activities. The leader of FESCI, Si\u00e9 Kambou, \u2062was arrested in connection \u200dwith the events leading\u2063 to \u2062the young people&#8217;s deaths, which the union vehemently denies, claiming the ban violates constitutional rights to association and assembly. <\/p>\n<p>The ban follows the murder of a FESCI member, Agui Deagou\u00e9, who was believed to be Kambou&#8217;s \u200drival. The\u2064 FESCI, founded in 1990, has historically been involved in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/2-9-billion-arms-sale-approved-for-germany-by-state-department\/\" title=\"Germany has been given the green light by the State Department for a .9 billion arms sale.\">political\u200b tensions<\/a> in the\u200c country, often accused of violence. While some defend the organization, stating\u200d it should not be judged by the actions of a\u200c few members, its \u2063influence over student \u2064housing and its controversial \u2064past have \u200bled to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hidden-history-operation-wetback-in-1953\/\" title=\"Exploring the Past: Operation Wetback in 1953\">government actions aimed<\/a> at diminishing its power, including\u200c the demolition of its headquarters. \u2063However, students are skeptical about whether these measures will significantly weaken the union&#8217;s control.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> <script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Ivory Coast&rsquo;s government has announced a ban on all student unions following the deaths of two students and the arrest of 17 suspects in a confrontation between police and a student association with connections to some of the most powerful people in the country.<\/p>\n<p>The ban on Thursday came after a government raid on student housing controlled by a student union, known by its French acronym FESCI, that the government says was connected to the deaths.<\/p>\n<p>The National Security Council said that officers discovered large caches of weapons as well as several &ldquo;illegal businesses&rdquo; within the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-new-report-alleges-ann-arbor-violated-michigan-election-laws-during-2022-midterms\/\" title=\"New Report: Ann Arbor Accused of Breaking Michigan Election Laws in 2022 Midterms\">student housing complex<\/a> on the main campus of the University of Abidjan.<\/p>\n<p>The arrests targeted FESCI&rsquo;s leadership, including the general secretary, Si&eacute; Kambou, who was arrested in connection with the killings, according to a filing by chief prosecutor Kon&eacute; Oumar.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;No crime can be committed in the FESCI environment without the named Si&eacute; Kambou being informed of it,&rdquo; the court filing said.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>In a statement on Friday, FESCI called the decision &ldquo;a flagrant violation of the right to association, assembly and peaceful demonstration conferred by the Constitution&rdquo; and denied any involvement in the deaths.<\/p>\n<p>The ban was the culmination of a government response to the death last month of FESCI member Agui Deagou&eacute;. According to the statement from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rescuers-recover-another-body-from-superyacht-wreckage-as-search-continues\/\" title=\"Rescuers Recover Another Body from Superyacht Wreckage as Search Continues\">public prosecutor&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s office, Deagou&eacute; was Kambou&rsquo;s main rival within the union and was kidnapped off the street on his way to a meeting with him.<\/p>\n<p>FESCI was created in 1990 as a student association, but the group soon found itself at odds with then President F&eacute;lix Houphou&euml;t-Boigny, who had its leaders arrested for what he deemed illegal meetings and demonstrations.<\/p>\n<p>After Houphou&euml;t-Boigny&rsquo;s rival, Laurent Gbagbo, came to power in 2000, FESCI enjoyed a privileged status, and authorities looked the other way as members attacked opposition supporters on and off campus.<\/p>\n<p>In 2011, Gbagbo lost a presidential election, but refused to concede defeat, triggering an outbreak of violence in which FESCI and its former leaders allegedly attacked the outgoing government&rsquo;s opponents.<\/p>\n<p>One of FESCI&rsquo;s former leaders, Charles Bl&eacute; Goud&eacute;, faced trial for crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, but was acquitted in 2019.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;FESCI was an avant-garde association serving students and pupils in Cote d&rsquo;Ivoire,&rdquo; Julien-Geoffroy Kouao, an Abidjan-based political scientist, told The Associated Press, using the French name for the country. &ldquo;Unfortunately, today it has deviated to become an association whose instruments of action are violence.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>FESCI took control of much of the student housing across the country from the mid-2010s, and according to students, has been charging exorbitantly high rates for rooms that were often crowded or poorly maintained.<\/p>\n<p>But the union, whose 100,000 members make up a third of the Ivory Coast&rsquo;s student body, has been defended by some. FESCI as an organization shouldn&rsquo;t be blamed for the actions of some of its members, D&eacute;sir&eacute; N&rsquo;Guessan Kouam&eacute;, a local politician, told the AP.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Today, some people call it a criminal (organization). Fine, but we must recognize that in any organization or society, there are black sheep,&rdquo; Kouam&eacute; said.<\/p>\n<p>Following the decision by the National Security Council, government workers began to demolish the group&rsquo;s headquarters, but given FESCI&rsquo;s role in administering student housing, some students expressed doubt it would be enough to force the organization to close or even to dent its power significantly.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-style: italic;\">The Western Journal has not reviewed this Associated Press story prior to publication. Therefore, it may contain editorial bias or may in some other way not meet our normal editorial standards. It is provided to our readers as a service from The Western Journal.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> <label>* Name<\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> <\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> <label>* <\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> <\/div>\n<p> <label>* Message<\/label> <br \/> <textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea>  <\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> <input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\">  <\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script>  <\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The government of Ivory Coast has imposed a ban on all student unions after two students died and 17 suspects were arrested during a clash between police and a student group linked to influential figures in the country. This decision followed a raid on student housing associated with the FESCI union, which authorities claim is connected to the fatalities<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2356861,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Picture-47.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[43312,39212,43313],"class_list":["post-2356860","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-ivory-coast","tag-police-raid","tag-student-unions"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Picture-47.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2356860","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2356860"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2356860\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2356861"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2356860"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2356860"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2356860"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}