Abidjan, June 3, 2026 — Alassane Koné, Technical Advisor to the Minister of Communication and President of the Conseil supérieur de la publicité (CSP), has reaffirmed the Ivorian government’s commitment to modernizing the country’s advertising sector. Speaking at the ‘Tout savoir sur’ (TSS) exchange forum organized by the Centre d’information et de communication gouvernementale (CICG) on June 2, 2026, he emphasized that digital advertising regulation is now a top priority for the CSP.
The rapid evolution of digital technologies, the cross-border nature of online platforms, and the need for highly skilled professionals to monitor content effectively have created unprecedented challenges. Mr. Koné pointed out that traditional regulatory frameworks struggle to keep pace with the speed of technological change, while national authorities face difficulties in overseeing platforms operating beyond national borders.
To address these issues, Côte d’Ivoire has taken a major step forward with the adoption of Law No. 2022-979 of December 20, 2022, which governs audiovisual communication. This law now requires influencers with over 25,000 subscribers to comply with the same rules as audiovisual broadcasters, under the supervision of the Haute Autorité de la Communication Audiovisuelle (HACA).
The CSP is also prioritizing consumer protection by cracking down on misleading advertisements. Advertisers must now submit their campaigns for prior approval by the Commission de contrôle et de validation (CCV) before airing. Violations can result in fines ranging from 3% to 5% of turnover or even criminal penalties, including up to two months in prison.
Despite these advancements, Côte d’Ivoire’s advertising market remains modest, contributing less than 1% to the national GDP and generating around 30 billion West African CFA francs annually. This performance lags behind neighboring countries with comparable market sizes, highlighting the need for further reforms.
