Côte d’Ivoire Urges Africa-Wide Action Against Fake News

Côte d’Ivoire’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Kalilou Traoré, has called for united African efforts to combat the growing threat of fake news across the continent.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja, Traoré denounced a recent false report on social media that claimed a military coup had taken place in Côte d’Ivoire, and President Alassane Ouattara had been captured, killed, or had fled the country.

“The claims were completely baseless,” he said. “While that misinformation was spreading, the government was meeting as usual, and preparations were ongoing for major events like the African Development Bank General Assembly and a large fair starting on May 23.”

Traoré warned that disinformation poses a significant danger to all African nations. “We need regulatory solutions, technical tools, and public awareness to fight this effectively,” he said. “Citizens must also change their behaviour and verify information before sharing it.”

He applauded the Nigerian media for not spreading the false coup story, describing their professionalism as commendable. He also noted that the fake news, circulated mainly in English, gained more traction in Nigeria than in Côte d’Ivoire, where the story barely registered.

Côte d’Ivoire, he said, launched a national campaign against fake news in 2023, focusing on public sensitisation, regulatory measures, and the development of digital tools to curb misinformation. But he emphasized that no country can tackle the issue alone.

“This is a shared challenge. We must cooperate more—sharing intelligence, improving digital literacy, and exchanging best practices across borders,” he said, citing Côte d’Ivoire’s strong partnerships with Nigeria in defense, security, agriculture, and trade.

“It’s not about who takes the lead,” Traoré added, “but about Africa working together to protect its people from the dangers of disinformation.”