Ivorian President, Ouattara dispels Coup rumours, presides over cabinet meeting

The President of Côte d’Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara has made a public appearance on Wednesday, presiding over a council of ministers meeting in Abidjan, effectively quelling widespread coup rumours and false reports of his death.

The Ivorian presidency released photographs confirming Ouattara’s presence alongside top cabinet officials at the high-level meeting held at the presidential palace.

Key items on the agenda included plans to diversify the country’s electricity sources and improve housing access for citizens.

The president’s public outing followed a wave of unverified social media claims alleging that the military had taken over government and that both Ouattara and Army Chief Lassina Doumbia had been killed.

The rumours quickly gained traction across platforms like Facebook, X, TikTok, and even some traditional news outlets, sparking anxiety and speculation.

However, there was no official indication of unrest from military or security forces. Journalists in Abidjan also dismissed the claims as unfounded.

“There is no coup in Côte d’Ivoire. The country is stable,” said Christelle Kouamé, a journalist and executive member of the National Union of Journalists of Côte d’Ivoire.

She confirmed that President Ouattara had recently attended public events, including the opening of the Africa CEO Forum and Wednesday’s council meeting.

Kouamé also debunked claims of internet blackouts, saying, “It is fake news. People do what they want with the internet. But it is thanks to the internet that I’m speaking to you.”

The development comes as West Africa grapples with a string of military coups in recent years, leaving countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Niger under junta rule and raising tensions in the region.

Côte d’Ivoire’s latest scare arrives just days before it hosts the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) annual meetings, where a new president is expected to be elected to succeed Akinwumi Adesina after his two-term tenure.