Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ABIDJAN633
2006-06-13 17:10:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abidjan
Cable title:  

COTE D'IVOIRE: UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS RESTART

Tags:  ELAB PGOV ECON EFIN IV 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7554
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHAB #0633 1641710
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 131710Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1461
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS ABIDJAN 000633 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PGOV ECON EFIN IV
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS RESTART
UNLIMITED STRIKE

REF: A) ABIDJAN 589 B) ABIDJAN 616

UNCLAS ABIDJAN 000633

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PGOV ECON EFIN IV
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS RESTART
UNLIMITED STRIKE

REF: A) ABIDJAN 589 B) ABIDJAN 616


1. (U) The group of university professors known as
Coordination Nationale des Enseignants du Superieur et des
Chercheurs (CNEC) has again commenced an unlimited strike
after a two-week truce in which it considered the options put
forth by the Council of Ministers (ref A). On June 9, the
members of CNEC voted against the offered research allowances
and extended retirement conditions. The leader of CNEC, Dr.
Flavien Traore, acknowledged the government's effort but
stated that what was offered didn't meet CNEC's most
important demands, a wage and housing allowance increase.
Traore added that during the two-week truce, CNEC had
attempted to negotiate for these increases, but the
government refused to include them in its final offer.


2. (U) Both university and secondary school students will be
effected by the strike. It is likely too late in the
university academic year to recover time lost in the strikes
and the year may therefore have to be repeated by students.
University professors also administer the high school
exit/university entrance exam, the baccalaureat (bac),
scheduled for August. If the strike is still in place at
that time, students will be unable to proceed to university.


3. (SBU) Comment: The resumption of the strike seems
certain to generate considerable ill will among students and
their parents, who will raise the pressure on both professors
and the Prime Minister to reach a settlement. The rising
frustration level will also create ready opportunities for
the thuggish student association, FESCI (ref B),to try to
undermine the Prime Minister by going back out on the streets
in protest.

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