USA Africa Dialogue Series - Five explanations for the Ivorian coup that was/wasn’t

Last week, the internet was rife with 

rumors of a coup in Ivory Coast.

Social media outlets amplified 

the claim. 

Here are six explanations 

for the widespread rumor:

1. There was really an attempted 

coup against the highly unpopular 

leader, perceived to be a French

puppet. It failed,  but the rumor mill

did not catch up with the 

changing reality fast enough.

2. It was a palace coup.

Ouattara  is no longer calling the

shots,  and is now a figurehead.

The  verified gunshots were 

proof of internal strife.

3. Ouattara and his backers

engineered the rumor to divert 

attention from  drone deals etc.

4. Psychological warfare against

the  regime by domestic critics, 

enemies and activists on 

social media, aimed at instigating 

a real coup.

5. The Traore effect: Wishful 

     thinking by supporters

    of Traore - hoping for regional

    geopolitical transformation.

6. A ploy to trap domestic and

regional enemies into revealing 

 allegiance- or lack of it.

    

As the situation unfolds we

watch with bated breath.

   

Dr. Gloria Emeagwali
Professor of History/African Studies, CCSU
Chief Editor- "Africa Update"
https://sites.ccsu.edu/afstudy/archive.html
Gloria Emeagwali's Documentaries
www.vimeo.com/gloriaemeagwali
www.africahistory.net
Founding Coordinator, African Studies, CCSU