The authorities say the parliamentarian’s social media post caused violent riots.

Former Sport Minister Alain Lobognan tweeted that prosecutors were about to arrest a fellow MP.

The authorities insist this was never the case and that the MP’s fake new had led violent protests.

Lobognan has gone on hunger strike since receiving the jail sentence. 

He claims he’s the target of a politically-motivated attack.

Lobognan is close to Parliamentary Speaker Guillaume Soro who’s a former rebel leader and prime minister.

Soro’s fallen out with President Alassane Ouattara whom he plans to oppose in elections scheduled for next year.

The post Ivorean MP jailed for disseminating fake news has gone on hunger strike appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.