In Abidjan, Alassane Koné, who serves as the technical advisor to the Minister of Communication and also presides over the High Council for Advertising (CSP), recently underscored the Ivorian government’s unwavering commitment to modernizing the advertising sector. He emphasized its potential as a crucial engine for economic growth during the “Tout savoir sur” (TSS) discussion forum, hosted by the Government Information and Communication Center (CICG) on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
Confronted with the profound shifts brought about by the digital revolution and the escalating complexities of advertising oversight, the CSP President highlighted that regulating digital advertising now stands as one of the institution’s paramount challenges.
He pinpointed three significant hurdles: the rapid pace of digital technological advancements, the inherently cross-border nature of digital platforms, and the critical need for highly skilled human resources to effectively monitor content.
“The digital landscape evolves at a considerably faster rate than conventional regulatory frameworks,” explained the CSP President. He further underscored the inherent difficulty for national authorities to govern platforms whose operations extend far beyond state borders.
To tackle these challenges head-on, Mr. Koné revealed that Côte d’Ivoire has already made a pivotal move by enacting Law n°2022-979 on December 20, 2022, which establishes the legal framework for audiovisual communication.
This new legislation now mandates that influencers with over 25,000 subscribers adhere to the regulations governing audiovisual communication, with oversight provided by the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA).
The technical advisor to the Minister of Communication also stressed the imperative to safeguard consumers from deceptive advertising content. To this end, he reiterated that Ivorian law requires advertisers to submit their campaigns for pre-validation by the CSP’s Control and Validation Commission (CCV).
The CSP President expressed concern over the continued prevalence of irregular advertising practices. He issued a stern warning that violators face penalties ranging from fines equivalent to 3 to 5 percent of their turnover to criminal prosecution, potentially leading to prison sentences of up to two months.
Currently, the national advertising market accounts for less than 1 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), generating approximately 30 billion CFA francs. This figure stands in stark contrast to several neighboring countries, which report significantly higher performances despite sometimes having less developed markets.
