A TikTok post circulating online claims to show French President Emmanuel Macron publicly disavowing Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara. The post, which has been flagged as false by PesaCheck, features a photomontage of the two presidents along with Burkinabé President Ibrahim Traoré. The video accompanying the post appears to show President Ouattara stating that President Macron is a friend, to which President Macron responds, "Pardon, I have no friends."
According to PesaCheck, a reverse image search revealed that the video of President Ouattara was recorded in October 2020 during an interview with France 24, just days before the Ivorian presidential election. During the interview, President Ouattara justified his candidacy, citing a "duty of patriotism" and the sacrifice requested by his party following the death of Amadou Gon Coulibaly.
Further investigation by PesaCheck found that the video of President Macron was recorded in April 2018 during an interview at the Théâtre national de Chaillot with journalists Jean-Jacques Bourdin and Edwy Plenel. In the interview, President Macron discussed various topics, including economic and fiscal reforms, and responded to a question about his relationship with businessman Bernard Arnault, saying, "Pardon, I have no friends."
PesaCheck found that the videos of Presidents Ouattara and Macron were recorded in different periods and contexts. A Google search revealed that President Macron has not made any statements disparaging President Ouattara. In fact, President Macron has regularly referred to President Ouattara as a "man of his word" and congratulated him on his re-election as Ivorian President.
The two presidents have maintained a positive relationship, with President Ouattara visiting President Macron in February 2026, and a new meeting scheduled in Paris as part of an official visit to Europe that began on October 23, 2026. PesaCheck's verification of the TikTok post is part of an ongoing effort to examine content marked as potential disinformation on social media platforms.
The false claim about President Macron disparaging President Ouattara highlights the importance of fact-checking and verifying information online. PesaCheck's work aims to combat the spread of misinformation and promote accurate information, particularly in the context of international relations and diplomacy.
In conclusion, PesaCheck has confirmed that the TikTok post claiming to show President Macron disparaging President Ouattara is false. The organization's verification process has demonstrated that the videos were recorded in different contexts and that President Macron has not made any statements against President Ouattara.
Key points
- A TikTok post claiming to show French President Emmanuel Macron disparaging Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara is false.
- The videos of Presidents Ouattara and Macron were recorded in different periods and contexts, and a Google search revealed no evidence of President Macron disparaging President Ouattara.
- Presidents Macron and Ouattara have maintained a positive relationship, with recent meetings and congratulations on President Ouattara's re-election.
