Côte d’Ivoire’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Kalilou Traoré, has called for a united African approach to combat the growing menace of fake news across the continent.
Speaking in Abuja on Friday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Traoré addressed recent false claims circulating on social media about a military coup in Côte d’Ivoire. The fabricated reports alleged that President Alassane Ouattara had been captured, killed, or fled the country—claims the ambassador firmly dismissed as baseless.
“When this fake information was circulating, the country was calm.
The government was holding a council meeting, and preparations for major events, including the African Development Bank General Assembly and a large fair starting on May 23, were ongoing,” he explained.
Traoré emphasized that fake news is a threat that transcends borders, affecting all African nations.
“We must find regulatory solutions and support our governments in building capacity to tackle it.
Citizens also need to be aware that we are living in the era of fake news and must change our behaviour accordingly,” he said.
He urged individuals to verify information before sharing, recommending they rely on credible news sources and official communication channels.
“I was pleased to see that the Nigerian media did not spread the false report. They acted professionally, and I commend them,” Traoré added.
The ambassador noted that Côte d’Ivoire had already launched a national campaign against misinformation in 2023, focusing on public awareness and reforming regulations.
“We are also working on technical solutions to trace and curb the spread of fake news. However, no single country can address this alone,” he cautioned.
Interestingly, he pointed out that the viral falsehood gained more traction in Nigeria than in Côte d’Ivoire itself, in part because the misinformation was primarily in English.
“Our friends and contacts in Nigeria were calling to verify, but in Côte d’Ivoire, no one had even heard of it,” he said.
Reaffirming the strong bilateral ties between Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria in areas like defence, security, trade, and agriculture, Traoré underscored the importance of collaboration in addressing digital threats.
“We need stronger cooperation on information sharing, tracking digital threats, and exchanging best practices.
This is not about who leads but about coming together to tackle a shared threat,” he concluded.
— (NAN)
