How Social Media Manufactured a Coup

Introduction

In May 2025, social media users across West Africa were confronted with what appeared to be dramatic proof that Ivory Coast was descending into chaos. Videos showed burning buildings, armed soldiers, crowds running through streets and claims that President Alassane Ouattara’s government had been overthrown in a military coup. Viewed individually, some clips looked convincing. Viewed together, they seemed to confirm one another. The problem was that the coup never happened.

What made this episode remarkable was not a single forged image or fabricated statement. Instead, it was an example of how modern online disinformation can construct an entirely fictional event by stitching together genuine but unrelated footage from different places and times. Fact-checkers, journalists and digital investigators eventually demonstrated that the supposed evidence came from fires, local disturbances, foreign military footage and even events outside Ivory Coast. The episode became one of the clearest examples in the country of a political crisis that existed primarily on screens rather than in reality.[dubawa.org]dubawa.orgIvory Coast on fire: How malign actors coordinated online…22 Jun 2025 — This was the reality of the Côte d'Ivoire online coup as…

What the Viral Posts Claimed

The central claim was simple and dramatic: a military coup was under way in Ivory Coast. Posts circulating on X, Facebook, TikTok and other platforms alleged that soldiers had seized control, government authority was collapsing and violent unrest had spread across the country. Some accounts presented the claims as breaking news, while others framed them as evidence of a popular uprising against the government.[dubawa.org]dubawa.orgIvory Coast on fire: How malign actors coordinated online…22 Jun 2025 — This was the reality of the Côte d'Ivoire online coup as…

The story gained traction because it appeared during a politically sensitive period. Ivory Coast was approaching a presidential election, and political tensions were already attracting public attention. In such an atmosphere, claims of instability could appear plausible even when unsupported by verified reporting.[Al Jazeera]aljazeera.comwhy did rumours of a coup sweep ivory coast this weekAl JazeeraWhy did rumours of a coup sweep Ivory Coast this week?24 May 2025 — Fake stories of a coup d'etat in the West African nation of…Published: May 2025

The rumour did not remain confined to a single platform. Investigations found similar narratives moving rapidly between TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Repeated exposure created the impression that multiple independent sources were confirming the same event when, in reality, many posts relied on the same recycled material.[disinfo.africa]disinfo.africafalse claims of a coup détat in côte d ivoire 55835575af2bA TikTok video posted on 23 April 2025 falsely claimed a coup had…Read more…Published: April 2025

How Unrelated Footage Created False Corroboration

The strength of the false coup narrative came from accumulation. Rather than relying on one fabricated video, promoters assembled a collection of authentic images and clips that were detached from their original contexts.

One widely shared video showed a major fire and was presented as evidence that revolutionary violence had erupted in Ivory Coast. Fact-checkers traced the footage to a real blaze at the Adjamé Château commercial centre that had occurred months earlier and had no connection to any military takeover.[Dubawa]dubawa.orgIvory Coast on fire: How malign actors coordinated online…22 Jun 2025 — This was the reality of the Côte d'Ivoire online coup as…

Another clip depicted street unrest and was circulated as proof that fighting had broken out during the alleged coup. Investigators found that the footage actually related to a local confrontation between youths in districts of Abobo rather than a national political uprising.[Dubawa]dubawa.orgIvory Coast on fire: How malign actors coordinated online…22 Jun 2025 — This was the reality of the Côte d'Ivoire online coup as…

Images of soldiers provided another layer of apparent confirmation. Yet examination of uniforms, insignia and flags revealed that some of the military footage did not even originate in Ivory Coast. In one example, investigators identified the red, green and yellow national flag of Burkina Faso rather than the orange, white and green flag of Ivory Coast.[Dubawa]dubawa.orgIvory Coast on fire: How malign actors coordinated online…22 Jun 2025 — This was the reality of the Côte d'Ivoire online coup as…

Other posts used photographs from entirely different countries. Fact-checkers traced some images to unrelated demonstrations, including protests in Kenya, despite captions claiming they showed events in Ivory Coast.[Full Fact]fullfact.orgFull Fact There was no coup in Ivory Coast in May, as claimedFull FactThere was no coup in Ivory Coast in May, as claimedJune 3, 2025 — 3 Jun 2025 — There was no coup in the Ivory Coast last month…Published: June 3, 2025

This technique created what researchers of misinformation sometimes call false corroboration. Each image appeared to support the others, even though none actually documented the claimed event. The illusion emerged from volume rather than authenticity.[Dubawa]dubawa.orgIvory Coast on fire: How malign actors coordinated online…22 Jun 2025 — This was the reality of the Côte d'Ivoire online coup as…

Why So Many People Found the Story Plausible

The fictional coup succeeded because it borrowed credibility from real anxieties and real events.

West Africa has experienced several genuine military takeovers in recent years, particularly in neighbouring Sahel states. News of coups was therefore not inherently implausible to many audiences. A dramatic claim about Ivory Coast fitted an existing regional narrative that people were already familiar with.[Al Jazeera]aljazeera.comwhy did rumours of a coup sweep ivory coast this weekAl JazeeraWhy did rumours of a coup sweep Ivory Coast this week?24 May 2025 — Fake stories of a coup d'etat in the West African nation of…Published: May 2025

The campaign also exploited a broader online environment in which pro-coup and strongly anti-Western political messaging had become highly visible. Investigations into the accounts promoting the rumour found that many routinely posted content praising military governments and discussing coups elsewhere in Africa. The alleged overthrow in Ivory Coast was presented as another chapter in that wider story.[Roundcheck - Authenticity and Clarity]roundcheck.com.ngUncovering How Social Media…10 Jun 2025 — Our investigation revealed that the claims that a Coup took place in Ivory Coast, and the im…

The persuasive power of the posts came less from direct evidence than from emotional storytelling. Burning buildings, armed soldiers and fleeing crowds conveyed urgency and danger. Viewers often encountered these visuals before encountering any verification or context.[News24]news24.comThe coup that never happened: How Ivory Coast became a…24 May 2025 — Allegations that a military coup had taken place in Ivory C…Published: May 2025

The Digital Clues That Exposed the Fabrication

The supposed coup collapsed under relatively straightforward digital investigation.

Fact-checkers began by isolating individual videos and images rather than treating the viral collection as a single body of evidence. Reverse-image searches, frame-by-frame analysis and comparisons with earlier uploads quickly revealed that many clips had circulated online before the alleged coup.[Dubawa]dubawa.orgIvory Coast on fire: How malign actors coordinated online…22 Jun 2025 — This was the reality of the Côte d'Ivoire online coup as…

Visual details proved especially important. Investigators examined flags, buildings, clothing and locations visible in the footage. These clues often pointed to places outside Ivory Coast or to incidents that had occurred long before the rumours emerged.[Dubawa]dubawa.orgIvory Coast on fire: How malign actors coordinated online…22 Jun 2025 — This was the reality of the Côte d'Ivoire online coup as…

Equally significant was the absence of confirmation from reliable sources. No credible national institutions, established news organisations or independent observers reported a successful military takeover. A coup severe enough to generate the scenes shown in the viral posts would almost certainly have produced extensive corroborating evidence. Instead, investigators found a patchwork of unrelated material.[aljazeera.com]aljazeera.comwhy did rumours of a coup sweep ivory coast this weekAl JazeeraWhy did rumours of a coup sweep Ivory Coast this week?24 May 2025 — Fake stories of a coup d'etat in the West African nation of…Published: May 2025

As fact-checks accumulated, the narrative became increasingly difficult to sustain. The same evidence that had initially appeared persuasive became proof of manipulation once its original context was restored.[dubawa.org]dubawa.orgIvory Coast on fire: How malign actors coordinated online…22 Jun 2025 — This was the reality of the Côte d'Ivoire online coup as…

What the Episode Reveals About Modern Hoaxes

The fake coup of 2025 was not a traditional hoax built around a forged document, an invented witness or a fabricated photograph. It represented a newer form of deception in which authentic material is rearranged into a false narrative.

The people behind the campaign did not need to manufacture every image. They simply needed enough unrelated footage to create the appearance of a coherent story. Social media algorithms, rapid reposting and cross-platform sharing helped transform scattered incidents into what looked like a single national crisis.[dubawa.org]dubawa.orgIvory Coast on fire: How malign actors coordinated online…22 Jun 2025 — This was the reality of the Côte d'Ivoire online coup as…

The episode also demonstrated how political rumours can be amplified by broader ideological narratives. Some of the accounts promoting the claims had histories of celebrating military takeovers and presenting them as solutions to political problems. In that environment, the fictional coup functioned not merely as misinformation but as a piece of political storytelling designed to fit pre-existing beliefs.[Dubawa]dubawa.orgIvory Coast on fire: How malign actors coordinated online…22 Jun 2025 — This was the reality of the Côte d'Ivoire online coup as…

For the history of deception in Ivory Coast, the significance of the event lies in its method. The country was not facing a hidden coup that investigators later uncovered. Instead, investigators uncovered the construction of a coup that never existed. The most striking feature of the story was that the evidence appeared first and the event itself never followed.[dubawa.org]dubawa.orgIvory Coast on fire: How malign actors coordinated online…22 Jun 2025 — This was the reality of the Côte d'Ivoire online coup as…

Amazon book picks

Further Reading

Books and field guides related to How Social Media Manufactured a Coup. Use these as the next step if you want deeper reading beyond the article.

Book

Likewar

By Peter Warren Singer, Emerson T. Brooking

Directly addresses how social media can manufacture perceived events.

See on Amazon

Book

The Chaos Machine

By Max Fisher

Explores how platforms amplify misinformation and unrest.

See on Amazon

Book

The Misinformation Age

By Cailin O'Connor, James Owen Weatherall

Explains how misinformation spreads and persists.

See on Amazon

Book

Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds

By Charles Mackay

Rating: 4.0/5 from 5 Google Books ratings

Explores recurring patterns of mass belief and rumor.

See on Amazon

Browse more on Amazon:LikewarThe Chaos MachineThe Misinformation Age

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

eBay marketplace picks

Marketplace Samples

Live-tested eBay searches with available results related to this page.

Shop location

UsingUSA USA USAUKCanadaAustraliaIreland

Example eBay listing

Wimbledon Tennis Backpack Championships Press Media Reporters Commentators New

SearcheBay.co.uk: news media memorabilia

Browse similar oneBay.co.uk

Example eBay listing

Greek vintage stamps Assemblage collage unique art HandMade piece decor new

SearcheBay.co.uk: news media memorabilia

Browse similar oneBay.co.uk

Example eBay listing

PHOTO BRISTOL NEWS & MEDIA BRISTOL EVENING POST OFFICE

SearcheBay.co.uk: news media memorabilia

Browse similar oneBay.co.uk

Example eBay listing

RUGBY WORLD CUP MEMORABILIA - Media Ticket Opening Match - New- England Vs Fiji

SearcheBay.co.uk: news media memorabilia

Browse similar oneBay.co.uk

Browse more oneBay.co.uk

Example items shown for inspiration; availability and pricing can change. Branchoria may earn a commission if you purchase through outbound eBay links.

Endnotes

1. Source: dubawa.org
Link:https://dubawa.org/ivory-coast-on-fire-how-malign-actors-coordinated-online-coup-that-never-happened/

2. Source: news24.com
Link:https://www.news24.com/southafrica/debunking/the-coup-that-never-happened-how-ivory-coast-became-a-target-of-digital-disinformation-20250523-1132

Published: May 2025

3. Source: roundcheck.com.ng
Link:https://roundcheck.com.ng/2025/06/10/coup-in-cote-divoire-uncovering-how-social-media-accounts-spread-false-reports-of-a-military-takeover-in-ivory-coast/

4. Source: factcheckhub.com
Title: video does not depict military coup in ivory coast
Link:https://factcheckhub.com/video-does-not-depict-military-coup-in-ivory-coast/

Published: May 2025

5. Source: instagram.com
Link:https://www.instagram.com/reel/DL9cPTtigB2/?hl=en

6. Source: facebook.com
Link:https://www.facebook.com/BBCnewsafrica/posts/false-claims-about-a-coup-in-ivory-coast-flooded-social-media-earlier-this-year-/1287281696089564/

7. Source: facebook.com
Link:https://www.facebook.com/groups/452866971950555/posts/1828074964429742/

8. Source: facebook.com
Link:https://www.facebook.com/bello.isiaka.co.uk/posts/revealed-the-social-media-accounts-using-ai-videos-to-amplify-pro-traore-propaga/9836406163145288/

9. Source: youtube.com
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaTkXRPC_9g

10. Source: youtube.com
Title: Why This Fake Coup in Ivory Coast Matters
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cxxyqyT7bI

11. Source: youtube.com
Title: Did France Fake A Coup In Ivory Coast To Protect President Alassane Ouattara?
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dM2ywQZsE_M

12. Source: youtube.com
Title: Ivory Coast combats uptick in disinformation campaigns around elections
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4cq9YWxlpI

13. Source: youtube.com
Title: From fake polls to false claims — disinformation heats up as Cote d’Ivoire votes
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPb8HxA86VQ

14. Source: youtube.com
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maFlhKolOkw

15. Source: disinfo.africa
Title: false claims of a coup détat in côte d ivoire 55835575af2b
Link:https://disinfo.africa/false-claims-of-a-coup-d%C3%A9tat-in-c%C3%B4te-d-ivoire-55835575af2b

Published: April 2025

16. Source: aljazeera.com
Title: why did rumours of a coup sweep ivory coast this week
Link:https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/24/why-did-rumours-of-a-coup-sweep-ivory-coast-this-week

Published: May 2025

17. Source: fullfact.org
Title: Full Fact There was no coup in Ivory Coast in May, as claimed
Link:https://fullfact.org/world/there-was-no-coup-in-ivory-coast-in-may-as-claimed/

Published: June 3, 2025

Additional References

18. Source: ft.com
Link:https://www.ft.com/content/1a764c58-a15f-4497-a801-a693126fc114

19. Source: apnews.com
Link:https://apnews.com/article/9c2b167d2516c1fcbe5a3acd558bcc9f

20. Source: thejournal.ie
Title: ivory coast coup 6724543 Jun2025
Link:https://www.thejournal.ie/ivory-coast-coup-6724543-Jun2025/

21. Source: factcheck.afp.com
Title: Ivory Coast
Link:https://factcheck.afp.com/AFP-Ivory-Coast