Ivory Coast Government Dismisses Coup Rumors Amid Social Media Frenzy

Byline: Staff Correspondent
Date: May 25, 2025
Location: Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire

The Ivorian government has officially denied rumors of a military coup that circulated widely on social media platforms earlier this week. The National Agency for Information Systems Security (ANSSI) labeled the claims as "completely unfounded" and attributed them to a "deliberate and coordinated disinformation campaign" .Business DayAl Jazeera

The rumors, which began spreading on May 21, alleged that President Alassane Ouattara had been overthrown or killed, with some posts claiming that gunfire had erupted in Abidjan and that the president had fled the country. These assertions were swiftly debunked by multiple fact-checking organizations and journalists on the ground. President Ouattara was seen presiding over a cabinet meeting at the presidential palace in Abidjan on May 22, reaffirming the government's stability .The Rio Times+2FactCheckHub+2Boatos.org+2Sahara Reporters+1FactCheckHub+1

The spread of these false claims comes amid heightened political tensions in the country, particularly following the disqualification of opposition leader Tidjane Thiam from the upcoming presidential election due to questions about his citizenship status . Analysts suggest that such disinformation campaigns aim to exploit existing political divisions and undermine public confidence in the government.Al Jazeera+1Wikipedia+1

In response to the incident, the Ivorian authorities have urged citizens to rely on official channels for information and to refrain from sharing unverified reports. The government has also indicated that it is investigating the sources of the disinformation and may take legal action against those responsible for spreading false information that threatens national security.

The incident underscores the challenges that governments face in the digital age, where misinformation can spread rapidly and have real-world consequences. As Côte d'Ivoire approaches its presidential election, maintaining public trust and ensuring the integrity of information will be critical to the country's democratic process.