“It’s worse than the Stone Age”, an Algerian influencer expelled from Ivory Coast after denigrating the organizing country

Sofia Benlemmane had published a video in which she criticized the standard of living and development of Ivory Coast which is hosting the African Cup of Nations.

Algerian influencer Sofia Benlemmane was expelled from Ivory Coast after the publication of a video in which she denigrated the country organizing the African Cup of Nations, we learned from an official source on Friday. “She was arrested in Bouaké (center) on Wednesday and taken to Abidjan on Thursday where she was questioned before being expelled“, government spokesperson Amadou Coulibaly told AFP. “She recognized and took responsibility for all her words», he added, specifying that the procedure was carried out in conjunction with the Algerian embassy in Ivory Coast.

In a video published on Sunday, Ms. Benlemmane films herself in a street in an Ivorian town, declaring in particular: “Algerians need to know how they live here. We thank God for having a country like Algeria. Normally, Algeria should be located between Portugal and Spain. Because here, they live in poverty. It’s worse than the Stone Age».

Numerous indignant reactions ignited social networks, in Ivory Coast but also in many African countries including Algeria. “It is the CAN of hospitality, but with a minimum of respect and courtesy», Amadou Coulibaly said on Friday.

Upon her arrival in Algiers on Thursday, this influencer known for her highlights posted a new video where she said “very happy to have returned to Algeria“. She claims that the Ivorian Territorial Security Directorate (DST) “hassupport for 50 hours». «For safety reasons, especially mine, we had to leave the territory. It grew bigger, I didn’t understand, I just saw what I saw“, she continues.

A famous Algerian supporter

Sofia Benlemmane is a very famous supporter of the Algerian football team, which she regularly accompanies on trips. She stood out in 2022 for having led a real crusade against Gambian referee Bakary Gassama, accused of having favored Cameroon to the detriment of Algeria in a decisive match for qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

She was also sentenced in France to a suspended prison sentence and a three-year stadium ban for having participated in invading the pitch at the Stade de France, during a France-Algeria friendly match in 2001. Algerian supporters are notably present in Bouaké where the Fennecs play their matches in group D of the CAN. Algeria started with a draw against Angola (1-1) and faces Burkina Faso on Saturday.