Analysis of Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference in Ivory Coast

This report by International IDEA analyzes Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) in Côte d'Ivoire, situating it within the shifting political landscape of West Africa. Following military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Niger, the rise of the Alliance of Sahel States has fueled narratives promoting radical pan-Africanism and military populism. Côte d'Ivoire is identified as a strategic target due to its regional economic weight and relative stability. The study highlights how external geopolitical rivalries have moved into the information sphere, exploiting internal vulnerabilities such as lingering distrust from past electoral crises (2000, 2010, 2020, 2025) and deep social polarization. Key findings indicate that foreign narratives are not imposed directly but hybridize with local frustrations, amplified by social media and weak media literacy. The report notes the presence of local ideological relays that converge with external discourses, further weakening political institutions. Additionally, the precarious and polarized traditional media landscape fails to counter these manipulations effectively, leaving the public exposed to hate speech and disinformation regarding nationality, justice, and identity issues.