Abidjan, June 3, 2026 – Alassane Koné, the Technical Advisor to the Minister of Communication and President of the Higher Council of Advertising (CSP), recently underscored the Ivorian authorities’ unwavering commitment to modernizing the advertising sector. This strategic move aims to transform it into a robust engine for economic development, as he articulated during the “Tout savoir sur” (TSS) interactive forum, hosted by the Government Information and Communication Center (CICG) on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.

In the face of profound shifts driven by digital transformation and the escalating challenges inherent in advertising regulation, the CSP President highlighted that regulating digital advertising now stands as one of the institution’s primary hurdles.

He meticulously identified three significant obstacles: the rapid pace of digital technology evolution, the inherently cross-border nature of digital platforms, and the critical need for highly skilled human resources to effectively monitor content.

“Digital advancements outstrip traditional regulatory mechanisms at an astonishing rate,” explained the CSP President. He further emphasized the inherent difficulty for national authorities to govern platforms whose operations extend far beyond state borders.

To proactively address these challenges, Mr. Koné revealed that Côte d’Ivoire has already taken a pivotal step with the enactment of Law n°2022-979 on December 20, 2022, which establishes the legal framework for audiovisual communication.

This progressive legislation now subjects influencers with over 25,000 subscribers to the same rigorous rules applicable to audiovisual communication, all under the vigilant oversight of the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA).

The technical advisor to the Minister of Communication also firmly reiterated the imperative to shield consumers from deceptive advertising content. To this end, he reminded stakeholders that Ivorian law mandates advertisers to submit their campaigns for prior validation by the CSP’s Control and Validation Commission (CCV).

Despite these measures, the CSP President expressed concern over the persistence of irregular advertising practices. He issued a stern warning that offenders face severe penalties, ranging from fines equivalent to 3 to 5 percent of their turnover to criminal prosecution that could result in up to two months of imprisonment.

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 starkly contrasts with the more robust performance seen in some neighboring countries, even those with comparatively less developed markets.