Keypoints:
- Disinformation campaign spreads fake coup and resignation claims
- Government denies unrest as false videos circulate
- Political tensions rise ahead of October elections
AUTHORITIES in Cote d’Ivoire have moved to quell mounting public anxiety after a wave of fake online reports—including new claims that President Alassane Ouattara has resigned—sparked fresh political alarm just months ahead of national elections.
The most recent video, uploaded to YouTube, falsely claims that Ouattara has stepped down from office under ‘intense domestic and international pressure.’ The video offers no evidence and has not been verified by any credible news source. Ouattara’s office has not commented directly on the video, but he was seen chairing a cabinet meeting and attending a public ceremony on Thursday, strongly contradicting the claims.
This follows a surge of disinformation earlier in the week, when social media platforms like Facebook and X were flooded with posts purporting to show chaos in Abidjan, including fires and mass protests. Some posts falsely claimed the military had seized control and that army chief Lassina Doumbia had been assassinated.
Security agencies and Abidjan residents quickly refuted the reports. The National Agency for Information Systems Security (ANSSI) issued a public statement describing the rumours as “completely unfounded” and part of a coordinated disinformation campaign.
Long shadows of past violence
The false coup reports come at a tense moment for the country, with presidential elections scheduled for October 25. Cote d’Ivoire’s past elections have often turned violent, most notably in 2010, when a disputed result triggered a conflict that left over 3,000 people dead.
Fears are mounting that this year’s vote could also erupt into unrest. President Ouattara, now in his third term, is widely expected to seek a controversial fourth, despite constitutional limits. A 2016 amendment, his supporters argue, reset the term count—an interpretation used during his 2020 campaign.
While the president has not declared his candidacy, the RHDP party nominated him again in December 2024, fuelling speculation and unease.
| Claim | Status | Fact |
| A military coup has taken place in Abidjan | ❌ False | No verified reports of unrest. Security forces and local residents deny any disturbances. |
| Army chief Lassina Doumbia has been assassinated | ❌ False | No credible source confirms this. Army leadership remains unchanged. |
| President Alassane Ouattara is missing | ❌ False | Ouattara chaired a cabinet meeting and appeared publicly on Thursday. |
| President Ouattara has resigned under pressure | ❌ False | A YouTube video made the claim without evidence. No official confirmation exists. |
| Social media footage shows current events in Abidjan | ❌ Misleading | Videos are misattributed or recycled from unrelated incidents. |
| Coup reports are part of a disinformation campaign | ✅ Confirmed | National Agency for Information Systems Security (ANSSI) attributes it to fake networks. |
| Claim | Status | Fact |
| A military coup has taken place in Abidjan | ❌ False | No verified reports of unrest. Security forces and local residents deny any disturbances. |
| Army chief Lassina Doumbia has been assassinated | ❌ False | No credible source confirms this. Army leadership remains unchanged. |
| President Alassane Ouattara is missing | ❌ False | Ouattara chaired a cabinet meeting and appeared publicly on Thursday. |
| President Ouattara has resigned under pressure | ❌ False | A YouTube video made the claim without evidence. No official confirmation exists. |
| Social media footage shows current events in Abidjan | ❌ Misleading | Videos are misattributed or recycled from unrelated incidents. |
| Coup reports are part of a disinformation campaign | ✅ Confirmed | National Agency for Information Systems Security (ANSSI) attributes it to fake networks. |
Opposition locked out
Adding to the volatility is the barring of key opposition figures, particularly Tidjane Thiam, a respected former Credit Suisse CEO and leader of the Democratic Party of Cote d’Ivoire (PDCI). Thiam’s candidacy was rejected by a court over dual citizenship issues, a ruling his team says is politically motivated.
Thiam has vowed to continue fighting. He resigned and was immediately re-elected as party leader with 99 percent of the vote and may seek to re-register his candidacy.
Also sidelined is former President Laurent Gbagbo, who remains banned due to past convictions, while Pascal Affi N’Guessan and Simone Gbagbo remain in the race representing rival opposition factions.
Digital threats to democracy
This viral disinformation—now including fake claims of Ouattara’s resignation—has underscored how fragile Cote d’Ivoire’s political climate remains. Analysts warn that the rise in digital manipulation and fake news poses a serious risk to stability, particularly in already polarised societies.
As the country heads into a critical election season, trust in state institutions, transparency, and public communication will be essential to avoiding a repeat of its violent electoral past.
