The Interprofessional Agricultural Organization for the Coffee-Cocoa Sector in Côte d’Ivoire (OIA
Café-Cacao) is at the centre of a heated media controversy.
The institution has firmly denounced the unauthorised use of footage from its own activities in a video published on October 19, 2026, by the online outlet “Journal d’Abidjan” – a piece that was widely shared across social media.
The report in question, published by “Journal d’Abidjan,” focused on a demonstration allegedly held in Daloa (in the west of the country) on Saturday, October 17, 2026, in support of Kone Moussa – president of the union SYNAPCI – and his call for a strike.
However, to illustrate this event, the outlet used footage of OIA Café-Cacao leaders and members that had been filmed in an entirely different context.
The OIA Café-Cacao clarifies that the footage was actually captured in Divo on September 12, 2026 – more than a month earlier. It documents the launch of the organisation’s national awareness-raising tour, which promoted an unequivocal message: “No to the strike, yes to dialogue.”
According to the OIA Café-Cacao, this tactic creates serious confusion among the public. By visually linking its members to the demonstration in Daloa, the video falsely suggests that the organisation supports a strike movement with which it has absolutely no affiliation.
Condemning this misrepresentation – which deceives the public and damages its institutional image – the OIA points out that it was never consulted, nor was its permission ever sought, for the use of these images.
In response to what it describes as disinformation, the OIA Café-Cacao demands the immediate removal of the contentious video by the online news outlet.
It also calls for the publication of an explicit correction – afforded the same level of visibility and distribution as the original post – to clarify the origin of the footage.
Furthermore, it warns that, should prompt corrective action not be taken, it reserves the right to
refer the matter to regulatory authorities and the appropriate courts to uphold its rights.
While urging media professionals to exercise greater rigor and respect for the facts when reporting, the OIA Café-Cacao reaffirms its unwavering commitment to dialogue and cohesion in defending the interests of the sector.
AP/Sf/fss/as/APA