President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire on Wednesday appeared in public to preside over a council of ministers meeting at the presidential palace in Abidjan, quelling swirling rumours of a military coup and his alleged death.
The Ivorian presidency released an official statement confirming Ouattara’s participation, accompanied by photographs showing the president alongside key cabinet members during the high-level meeting.
Key issues on the agenda included the diversification of the country’s electricity sources and expanding access to adequate housing for citizens.
The president’s appearance came amid a wave of unverified reports on social media claiming that the military had seized power and that both President Ouattara and Army Chief Lassina Doumbia had been killed.
The coup rumours quickly gained traction across platforms like X, Facebook, TikTok, and even mainstream media, which sparked online panic.
Facebook’s analytics indicated over 9,700 users had engaged in discussions about the alleged coup by Wednesday.
Despite the online frenzy, there has been no official indication of unrest from the military or security forces.
The presence of President Ouattara at the council meeting appeared to be a strategic move to reassure citizens and discredit the viral misinformation.
TheCable reports that recent rumours of a coup in Côte d’Ivoire are false, following checks with journalists based in the French-speaking West African nation.
“There is no coup in Côte d’Ivoire. The country is stable,” said Christelle Kouamé, an Ivorian journalist based in Abidjan.
Kouamé, a member of the executive council of the National Union of Journalists of Côte d’Ivoire and the Organisation of Investigative Journalists in Côte d’Ivoire, dismissed the claims as misinformation.
“The president recently attended the opening of the Africa CEO Forum, and there was even a council of ministers today, which President Ouattara attended,” she added.
Addressing reports of internet disruptions, Kouamé said, “It is fake news. People do what they want with the internet. But it is thanks to the internet that I speak to you.”
Rumours of military takeovers have become more frequent in West Africa, amid a backdrop of political instability, weakened democratic institutions, and growing public distrust in civilian leadership.
In recent years, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea have witnessed successful coups, fuelling anxiety across the region.
The speculation in Côte d’Ivoire comes just days before the country is set to host the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) annual meetings. A new AfDB president is expected to be elected to succeed Akinwumi Adesina, who has completed two terms.