A Facebook post shared on September 11, 2026, features an image purporting to show the French Embassy in Côte d'Ivoire donating condoms to the Ivoirian Health Ministry. The post, which has been flagged as false, includes a photo of two individuals, one Caucasian and the other of darker complexion, dressed in suits, with one person handing the other a package labeled "Préservatifs" (condoms). The accompanying text makes unsubstantiated claims about the donation.
PesaCheck, a fact-checking initiative, has verified the post and found it to be false. The organization contacted Allé Paul Kouadio, head of communications at the Ivoirian Ministry of Health, who formally denied the claim, calling it "false". An image search using Bing did not yield any credible results, suggesting that the image may be generated by artificial intelligence.
Further analysis of the image using Hive Moderation revealed a 94% likelihood that it was generated by AI. A closer examination of the image reveals inconsistencies, including the fact that the individuals depicted do not match the actual officials responsible for the respective bureaus. Jean-Christophe Belliard is the current French ambassador to Côte d'Ivoire, but he is not the person represented in the photo.
PesaCheck also contacted the French Embassy in Côte d'Ivoire, which denied making any such donation, stating that it had not carried out any operation of this nature. The embassy emphasized that its official communication channels, including its website and social media accounts, are the only reliable sources of information.
The legal status of the LGBTQ+ community in Côte d'Ivoire is unclear, as it is neither criminalized nor protected by law. The post appears to be part of a broader trend of misinformation on social media platforms. PesaCheck is working to verify and debunk false claims, partnering with Facebook and other social media platforms to help users distinguish fact from fiction.
As part of its efforts to combat misinformation, PesaCheck has developed a methodology for verifying suspicious content. The organization encourages users to report suspected false information on Facebook and provides resources for understanding its verification process.
This fact-check was written by Mamady Kebe and edited by Josaphat Finogbé, with approval from PesaCheck's editor-in-chief, Doreen Wainainah. PesaCheck is an initiative aimed at verifying public claims about finances and public services in Africa, with a focus on promoting transparency and accountability.
Key points
- The image does not show the French Embassy in Côte d'Ivoire donating condoms to the Ivoirian Health Ministry.
- The post is part of a broader trend of misinformation on social media platforms.
- PesaCheck is working to verify and debunk false claims, partnering with social media platforms to promote transparency and accountability.
