Ivory Coast Election: Rumors Intensify as Vote Approaches

Political disinformation campaigns have begun to proliferate across Ivory Coast’s social media landscape, more than a year before the nation’s pivotal 2025 presidential election. False narratives targeting both domestic politics and international relations are circulating widely, threatening to undermine public trust in the electoral process.

Several fabricated stories have gained particular traction in recent weeks. Claims that incumbent President Alassane Ouattara plans to postpone elections to secure a controversial fourth term have spread rapidly despite lacking any official basis. Similarly, allegations of secret communications between Ouattara and French President Emmanuel Macron have fueled conspiracy theories about foreign interference in Ivorian politics. Perhaps most concerning are widespread rumors about planned electoral fraud involving underage voters, which experts say could damage confidence in the country’s electoral system.

Fact-checking organizations have thoroughly debunked these claims, but their continued circulation highlights the growing challenge of combating political disinformation in West Africa’s third-largest economy.

“What we’re seeing in Ivory Coast follows a troubling pattern across the region, where social media becomes a vector for political manipulation,” said Dr. Mariam Koné, a political analyst specializing in West African elections at the University of Abidjan. “The difference now is how these domestic narratives are being woven into broader geopolitical frameworks.”

Indeed, much of the disinformation appears designed to exploit existing tensions in Ivorian society. The false claims about Macron’s involvement tap into historical sensitivities about France’s role as the former colonial power and ongoing perceptions of French influence in Ivorian affairs.

Ivory Coast, the world’s largest cocoa producer and a key economic power in francophone West Africa, has experienced periods of political instability in its recent history. The 2010-2011 post-election crisis resulted in approximately 3,000 deaths when former President Laurent Gbagbo refused to concede defeat to Ouattara. The country has since achieved significant economic growth, but political divisions remain pronounced.

Electoral integrity is particularly sensitive in this context. President Ouattara, who has been in power since 2011, won a controversial third term in 2020 after his preferred successor died unexpectedly. While the constitution had been amended to reset term limits, the opposition boycotted that election, claiming Ouattara’s candidacy was unconstitutional.

“These false narratives don’t emerge in a vacuum,” explained Joseph Tano of the Ivorian Center for Media Literacy. “They exploit legitimate concerns about democratic processes and constitutional norms. When disinformation intersects with genuine political anxieties, it becomes particularly difficult to counter.”

Digital literacy experts note that disinformation in Ivory Coast has become increasingly sophisticated, using manipulated images, decontextualized videos, and false attribution to credible sources. The content often spreads through private messaging platforms before reaching more public forums, making it difficult to trace origins or implement content moderation.

The impact extends beyond Ivory Coast’s borders. As the economic powerhouse of the West African Economic and Monetary Union, political stability in the country has regional implications. Neighboring states like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea have experienced coups in recent years, raising concerns about democratic backsliding across the region.

Regional organizations have begun to recognize the threat. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) recently launched an initiative to combat election-related disinformation, though implementation remains in early stages.

For ordinary Ivorians, the proliferation of false information presents a practical challenge as they prepare for the 2025 vote.

“Every day I see different stories about the election on WhatsApp and Facebook,” said Kouamé Ahou, a small business owner in Abidjan. “It’s becoming impossible to know what’s true. I worry about how people will react if they believe these rumors.”

As the election approaches, media literacy advocates are calling for increased transparency from the electoral commission, proactive communication from political parties, and greater investment in fact-checking initiatives. Without these measures, they warn, disinformation could undermine the legitimacy of the electoral process and potentially trigger renewed instability in a country still healing from past conflicts.