Côte d’Ivoire’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Kalilou Traoré, has strongly denied social media rumors alleging a military coup in his country and the capture or death of President Alassane Ouattara. Speaking in Abuja, Traoré emphasized that the government was functioning normally and that preparations for major national events, including the African Development Bank General Assembly, were proceeding without disruption.
The ambassador condemned the false reports as entirely fabricated and warned of the growing threat fake news poses to all African nations. He called for a unified regulatory and educational approach to combat misinformation, urging citizens to verify information through credible sources before sharing it.
Traoré commended Nigerian media for acting responsibly and refraining from spreading the unfounded rumors. He highlighted Côte d’Ivoire’s efforts since 2023 to combat fake news through public awareness campaigns, legal reforms, and the development of technical solutions to trace misinformation.
He further noted the false reports were largely circulated in English, making them more impactful in Nigeria than in Côte d’Ivoire, where the language is less prevalent. Emphasizing strong bilateral ties, he called for deeper cooperation among African nations in monitoring digital threats and promoting accurate information sharing.
