President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire publicly chaired a cabinet meeting on Wednesday at the presidential palace in Abidjan, effectively dispelling rampant rumours of a military takeover and his supposed death.
The Ivorian presidency issued a formal statement alongside images showing Ouattara in session with top government officials, addressing key national priorities such as expanding electricity generation sources and improving housing access for citizens.
Social media platforms like X, Facebook, and TikTok had earlier been flooded with unverified claims alleging that the military had overthrown the government and that both the president and Army Chief Lassina Doumbia were dead.
Facebook metrics revealed that over 9,700 users had interacted with posts discussing the alleged coup.
Despite the viral spread of these claims, no evidence of instability or military action has emerged.
The president’s public engagement appears to have been a deliberate effort to calm fears and counter misinformation.
According to TheCable, investigations with local journalists confirmed that the nation remains stable.
Christelle Kouamé, a journalist in Abidjan and executive member of several press bodies, labelled the reports as false and misleading.
“There was no coup. The president even opened the Africa CEO Forum and chaired a council meeting today,” Kouamé clarified, also debunking reports of internet blackouts.
The situation in Côte d’Ivoire unfolds against a regional backdrop of political uncertainty, as West Africa has seen a rise in coups in countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
The timing of the false rumours is particularly sensitive, with the country set to host the African Development Bank’s annual meetings soon.