Tensions are rising within the National Union of Journalists of Ivory coast (UNJCI) after several members of its Executive Council publicly contested the nomination of Franck Ettien as the candidate for the outgoing office.
The announcement was made by the outgoing president, Jean-Claude Coulibaly, but councilors claim the process lacked transparency and consensus.
In a statement released on Monday, September 22, 2025, the dissenting officials said the meeting that designated Ettien excluded one of the potential candidates, Dangui Dangui, who was away on a professional assignment abroad.
They had requested a postponement to allow for broader discussion and consensus-building within the executive committee.
The statement also highlighted concerns over the voting process. Of the 24 councilors, only 13 participated in the vote, with nine supporting Ettien, four blank ballots, and 11 abstentions. “How, under these conditions, can we talk about a simple majority, as the press release claims?” the statement questioned, describing the process as “non-consensual.”
The officials stressed that internal divisions have plagued the UNJCI for the last four terms, particularly regarding candidate selection. They called for a “unity congress” to restore cohesion and promote peaceful, transparent elections.
“We insist on the need to rebuild unity within the UNJCI, through a congress free of tensions and peaceful elections,” the statement read, underlining their commitment to a collective vision for restoring the Union’s credibility.
The declaration was signed by several high-ranking council members, including Vice Presidents Ben Diakité and Christophe Koffi, Secretary for Solidarity Ibrahima Doukouré, Deputy Secretary for Organization Jean-Louis Kobrissa, Secretary for Information Moïse Yao Katumbi, Deputy Treasurer General Tiémoko Diarrassouba, and Secretary for Trade Union Affairs Dangui Dangui.
The controversy reflects ongoing challenges in balancing leadership succession and internal democracy within professional organizations, highlighting the need for inclusive decision-making processes to strengthen cohesion and trust among members.
The UNJCI now faces pressure to organize a transparent congress that will unite journalists and resolve lingering disputes before the next electoral cycle
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