Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire ramp up disinformation countermeasures

In Burkina Faso, about fifty journalists, public communicators, bloggers and opinion leaders gathered in Dédougou on July 30, 2026 for a four‑day capacity‑building session organized by the Ministry of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism. The training, led by the Directorate General of Communication and Media, focused on creating alternative content to subversive messages, countering hate speech, preventing radicalisation and promoting strategic communication to support national cohesion. Minister‑delegate Alexis Yaméogo praised the participants as future “ambassadors” defending the country’s image.

In Côte d'Ivoire, Minister of Communication and government spokesperson Amadou Coulibaly addressed a similar audience in Korhogo, urging a collective front against fake news. He highlighted the need for local authorities, traditional leaders, religious figures and professional media to verify information, noting that misinformation threatens health, security and social cohesion. The minister called on traditional press outlets to reinforce fact‑checking and serve as trusted information sources.