Disinformation Concerns Mount as Côte d’Ivoire Prepares for Presidential Election

As Côte d’Ivoire approaches its presidential election on October 25, growing concerns about online disinformation campaigns threaten to disrupt the democratic process in this West African economic powerhouse.

Media experts in Abidjan have raised alarms about false narratives spreading rapidly across social media platforms, with particularly troubling content appearing on TikTok. These posts often claim violence at protests or unfair campaigning practices, creating an atmosphere of tension in a country with a history of electoral violence.

“On digital social networks, particularly TikTok, there are a lot of rumors and misinformation circulating about possible violence and forms of destabilization that might take place or are currently taking place,” explains Joel Djaha, a sociology PhD student at Félix Houphouët-Boigny University in Abidjan.

The sources of misinformation appear to be politically motivated. “From my experience, they come mainly from online activists who are politically aligned, whether they are from opposition parties or the party in power,” Djaha adds.

Assane Diagne, French-language editor of The Conversation Africa and former editor of fact-checking platform Africa Check, points to concrete examples of this troubling trend. “A highly visited Facebook page in Côte d’Ivoire, Cash Ivoire, recently presented a video that went viral. The video claimed to be proof of a strong mobilization, with hundreds of people running and singing,” Diagne said. “Upon verification, this video was filmed in Haiti.”

The potential for social media to inflame tensions is particularly concerning given Côte d’Ivoire’s turbulent electoral history. The 2010 presidential race between Alassane Ouattara and then-incumbent Laurent Gbagbo led to violent clashes that claimed more than 3,000 lives after Gbagbo contested Ouattara’s victory.

In 2020, Ouattara ran for a controversial third term following the death of his party’s designated candidate, Amadou Gon Coulibaly. That election was marred by heightened tensions, inaccurate information, widespread disruptions, and low voter turnout.

Current electoral tensions have been amplified by the disqualification of opposition candidates Tidjane Thiam and Laurent Gbagbo. Authorities have banned protests over their exclusion, but reports—many unverified—of violence by protesters continue to circulate online.

Hyacinthe Bley, a historian at Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, warns that suppressing protest could backfire. “Their supporters have called to march to protest against their exclusion, and the authorities should let them express their anger, or else they will think that the current government just uses all means for repression to their advantage,” he said. “That cannot be good for a peaceful election.”

Beyond domestic tensions, international observers have raised concerns about foreign interference. Côte d’Ivoire’s economic significance in West Africa, particularly within the West African Economic and Monetary Union, makes the election’s outcome relevant far beyond national borders.

The vote is occurring amid shifting regional dynamics, as several neighboring Sahel states under military rule have rejected former colonial power France in favor of closer ties with Russia. President Ouattara has opposed the coups in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger while maintaining good relations with France, potentially making Côte d’Ivoire a target for external influence campaigns.

Earlier this month, Côte d’Ivoire’s National Agency for Information System Security identified an online disinformation campaign linked to the Sahel juntas, particularly from Burkina Faso. The campaign allegedly spread false reports that Ouattara had died and that violent uprisings had begun.

Mohamed Kebe, a journalist and fact-checking specialist, confirms that several pieces of false information being shared on social media are linked to the Alliance of Sahel States, composed of the three military-led countries. “It’s very important to take them seriously. Because these issues can be a source of serious tension,” he warned.

However, historian Bley remains skeptical about Burkina Faso’s involvement. “Burkina Faso has enough problems, and many Burkinabe live here in Côte d’Ivoire, so any backlash against them could be really bad for Ouagadougou. That’s why I don’t believe Burkina has any interest in destabilizing Côte d’Ivoire.”

In response to these challenges, the Ivorian government launched a national campaign in 2023 called #OnlineAllResponsible to increase awareness about online manipulation. Independent fact-checking platforms like IvoireCheck are also working to combat false information.

The International Republican Institute, in a pre-election assessment published last month, highlighted concerns about false narratives spreading on social media, “exacerbated by low digital literacy and foreign malign influence.” The organization recommended more efforts to counter distorted information and implement digital literacy programs.

Despite these challenges, Djaha remains optimistic about Ivorians’ resilience to misinformation. “Ivorians know about the internet, what happens the day before elections and what is being said,” he said. “They have a culture of digital reading and I think that it won’t really have too much influence.”

As election day approaches, the battle against disinformation continues, with the stability of one of West Africa’s most significant economies hanging in the balance.