Côte d’Ivoire’s audiovisual regulator is collecting declarations from Internet radio operators as part of its 2026 online-media census, with a Dec. 31 deadline reported by national broadcaster RTI.
The Haute Autorité de la Communication Audiovisuelle, or HACA, lists web radio explicitly among the services covered. Its notice also includes streaming platforms, audio and video podcasts, and broadcasters’ online catch-up services. The stated scope extends to audiovisual content distributed from Côte d’Ivoire or directed toward the country.
That cross-border scope matters for Internet stations serving Ivorian audiences from abroad. RTI’s Nov. 10 report specifically identifies foreign-based services targeting those listeners as covered by the exercise.
RTI reports that registration is free and seeks details about the operator, service, distribution channels and audience. It attributes an important distinction to HACA President Brou Aka Pascal: declaring a service in the census does not itself authorize its operation. Operators whose services require authorization still need that separate permission.
Broadcast Media Africa reported the same deadline and distinction on Nov. 12. HACA’s official directory page provides a link to the declaration form for online-media owners and publishers.
The immediate operator issue is the declaration process. The official directory notice does not explain how HACA distinguishes a foreign station actively targeting Ivorian listeners from one that is merely accessible there. That boundary remains unclear.