Algerian Journalist deported from Cote d’Ivoire while at AFCON

Algerian Influencer, Sofia Benlemmane has been deported and banned from Cote d’Ivoire for life, after ridiculing the country during AFCON. She said Ivorians live in poverty compared to the pre-historic era.

She also said Algeria is too developed to be in Africa and that it should be in Spain.

Following the widespread video in which she used derogatory language towards the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations host nation, depicting the country in a negative light, she was arrested yesterday at the stadium by the Rapid Intervention Brigade.

Benlemmane had uploaded a clip on social media that compared Ivory Coast unfavorably with her country Algeria while sousing derogatory language towards the West African nation.

“They live in misery here. I recorded a video yesterday at the bus station, and it’s the worst, like the prehistoric era. If I had some powers, I would have brought Algerians here to witness this,” she said in the video.

“What a difference with Algeria! Long live Algeria. I thank God for giving me a country like Algeria. Normally, Algeria is not supposed to be in Africa. It was supposed to be situated between Portugal and Spain.”

Her arrest was seen as one of the ways to clamp down on incidents of xenophobia with some incidents of discrimination or tension related to nationality having been reported at the tournament.