Liberia Public Radio (LPR) can confirm that reports circulating on social media about heavy gunfire in Ivory Coast and the alleged killing of a high-ranking military general are completely false.
LPR’s Abidjan correspondent, Benjamin Tegbeh, dismissed these claims as misleading, stating that there is no evidence of unrest or military confrontation in the Ivorian capital or other major cities.
“There is absolutely no sign of gunfire or instability in Abidjan. People are going about their normal activities, and there is no military presence outside of the usual,” he confirmed on Wednesday afternoon. “Authorities have not issued any security alerts, and we have spoken to residents and local journalists who also confirm that these reports are fake.”
“I am in the international correspondents’ chatroom, and so far, there has been no information regarding protests or any gunfire heard here,” he added.
The false information began spreading late Tuesday through unverified Facebook posts, claiming that gunfire had erupted in several districts of Abidjan and that a senior military general had been killed in what was described as an attempted coup.
However, a fact-check conducted by LPR, in collaboration with regional media contacts and civil society observers, found no credible evidence to support these claims.
The fake news comes a few months before the West African nation is expected to hold elections in October this year.
Our correspondent stated that the Ivorian government has yet to release an official statement on the matter, but senior security officials, contacted off the record, referred to the reports as “social media fabrications.”
“We are closely monitoring the situation, but so far, all signs point to peace and stability,” LPR’s editorial team in Abidjan confirmed.
A military source in Abidjan informed LPR that the army general in question is still alive and was seen in a meeting early Wednesday.
Liberia Public Radio will continue to provide verified updates as they become available.
