According to the attached excerpt from Africa South of the Sahara 1989, all forms of political activity were forbidden on campuses in 1982. [ Africa South of the Sahara 1989 (London: Europa Publications, 1988), p. 418.] Africa Contemporary Record states that fewer protests were held by students in 1986. [ Colin Legum, ed., Africa Contemporary Record 1986-1987 (London: Africana Publishing Company, 1988), p.B61.] It also states that overtures were being made to a former university lecturer who had gone into self-imposed exile following a 1982 conference on democracy which was stormed by riot police. [ Ibid.] According to the U.S. Government Country Reports 1989, the lecturer, Mr. Gbagbo, returned to Côte d'Ivoire in 1988 and was given a job at the university. He is, however, permitted to publish only in scientific journals and is not allowed to have significant contact with students. [ U.S. Department of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1989 (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1990), p. 94.]

In April 1990, students led demonstrations against the government's austerity measures which would include salary reductions of up to 47 percent. Police used tear gas to disperse the crowds. A high school student was reportedly beaten and later found dead in undetermined circumstances in the city of Adzopé, 100 km north of Abidjan. [ "Un première victime en Côte d'Ivoire", Le Devoir, 7 avril 1990; "Une manifestation d'appui tourne mal pour Houphouet", Le Devoir, 6 avril 1990.]

The Constitution guarantees the freedom of the press with the exception of violations of state security. [ L'information dans le monde (Paris: Editions du Seuil, 1989), p. 161.] However, in practice, criticism of government policies is not permitted. [ U.S. Department of State, p. 93.] Journalists practice a form of self-censorship. [ L'information, p. 162.] In 1987, the publication Jeune Afrique was banned from sale because of an article which suggested that Côte d'Ivoire was implicated in a coup d'état in Burkino Fasso. [ Ibid., p. 161.] This is in direct contradiction to the information given in the Encyclopedia of the Third World which states that "foreign publications are readily available, and are not seized even when they criticize the government". [ George Thomas Kurian, Encyclopedia of the Third World, Vol. 2, (New York: Facts on File, Inc., 1987), p. 988.]

Encyclopedia of the Third World also states that:Publication of 'false' news bringing into disregard the laws of the country or its political institutions or injuring the morals of the population is punishable with imprisonment, fine or expulsion. [ Ibid., p. 998.]

The IRBDC has no information currently available which can corroborate this statement.
ATTACHMENTS:
Africa South of the Sahara 1989 (London: Europa Publications, 1988), pp. 418-419.
Colin Legum, ed., Africa Contemporary Record 1986-1987 (London: Africana Publishing Company, 1988), pp. B60-B63.
"Un première victime en Côte d'Ivoire", Le Devoir, 7 avril 1990; "Une manifestation d'appui tourne mal pour Houphouet", Le Devoir, 6 avril 1990.
L'information dans le monde (Paris: Editions du Seuil, 1989), pp. 159-162.
George Thomas Kurian, Encyclopedia of the Third World, Vol. 2, (New York: Facts on File, Inc., 1987), pp. 988, 998.