Jean-François Kouassi, also known as JFK, a youth leader in Côte d’Ivoire, has been arrested following a Facebook post in which he criticised alleged corruption and exclusion in public recruitment processes.
On January 8, 2026, Kouassi, who is president of the Ivorian Youth Movement, accused the public administration of corruption, nepotism, and unequal access to civil service recruitment. He claimed that some young people joined the ruling Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) in order to improve their chances of accessing public service examinations.
In his post, Kouassi described the situation as a “state scandal” and said that Anne Désirée Ouloto, a former Minister of Public Service and current member of parliament, should be questioned over the allegations.
Later the same day, Kouassi announced on Facebook that he had been arrested. Videos of his arrest subsequently circulated on social media. He was initially taken to a police station in Abidjan before being transferred to the national police headquarters.
The comments followed an earlier Facebook post by activist Serif Tall on January 7, 2026, concerning the recruitment of 400 customs supervisory officers, which he said was not widely publicised. On January 12, 2026, activist and politician Kevin Mian stated that Kouassi had told him that authorities requested a public apology in exchange for his release, which he reportedly declined.
According to a statement published on his official page, Kouassi was presented before the public prosecutor on January 12, 2026, and placed in pre-trial detention. He faces charges including disturbing public order, defamation, spreading false information online, and false denunciation.
At the time of writing, authorities had not issued an official public statement on the case. The arrest has raised concerns among civil society actors about freedom of expression in Côte d’Ivoire, particularly the right of citizens to criticise public policies and public officials.
The Media Foundation for West Africa urges the Ivorian authorities to ensure that laws related to public order and online expression are applied in a manner consistent with international human rights standards, and that citizens are able to express opinions and criticisms without fear of arrest or prosecution.
