Abidjan, June 3, 2026 – Alassane Koné, the Technical Advisor to the Minister of Communication and President of the Higher Council of Advertising (CSP), recently affirmed the Ivorian government’s unwavering commitment to modernizing the advertising sector. The objective is clear: to transform this industry into a robust engine for economic development. This declaration was made during the “Tout savoir sur” (TSS) interactive forum, hosted by the Government Information and Communication Center (CICG) on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
Amidst the profound shifts brought about by digital technology and the escalating complexities of advertising oversight, the CSP President emphasized that regulating digital advertising stands as one of the institution’s most critical contemporary challenges.
He articulated three primary impediments to effective oversight: the breakneck pace of digital technological advancements, the inherently transnational nature of digital platforms, and the crucial need for highly skilled human capital to ensure diligent content monitoring.
“Digital evolution far outstrips the capacity of traditional regulatory frameworks,” explained the CSP President. He further highlighted the inherent difficulty for national authorities to govern platforms whose operations seamlessly transcend national boundaries.
In response to these formidable challenges, Mr. Koné pointed out that Côte d’Ivoire has already taken a significant legislative step. This includes the enactment of Law n°2022-979 on December 20, 2022, which establishes the legal framework for audiovisual communication.
This landmark legislation now extends the rules governing audiovisual communication to influencers boasting more than 25,000 subscribers, placing them under the direct supervision of the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA).
The Technical Advisor to the Minister of Communication also underscored the imperative of safeguarding consumers from deceptive advertising content. To this end, he reiterated that Ivorian law mandates advertisers to secure prior validation from the CSP’s Control and Validation Commission (CCV) for all their campaigns.
Despite these measures, the CSP President expressed concern over the persistent prevalence of irregular advertising practices. He issued a stern warning that violators face severe penalties, ranging from fines equivalent to 3% to 5% of their turnover to criminal prosecution, which could lead to imprisonment for up to two months.
Currently, the national advertising market contributes less than 1% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), generating approximately 30 billion CFA francs. This performance lags behind certain neighboring nations that exhibit stronger advertising market growth, even with sometimes less developed economies.