A COURT in Cote d’Ivoire has disqualified Tidjane Thiam, the newly appointed leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Cote d’Ivoire (PDCI), from standing in the upcoming presidential election scheduled for October 2025.
The ruling, delivered on Tuesday, cited Thiam’s previous acquisition of French citizenship in 1987, which, according to Ivorian nationality law, led to the automatic loss of his Ivorian nationality. The court’s decision, which cannot be appealed, effectively ends the former international banker’s presidential ambitions—at least for this electoral cycle.
Thiam, in a sharp rebuke, described the ruling as ‘an act of democratic vandalism’ and said it disenfranchised millions of potential voters. The PDCI, which had officially named him its candidate last week, has condemned the decision as politically motivated.
Legal technicality or political manoeuvre?
Citing Article 48 of the country’s 1960s-era nationality code, the court argued that Thiam lost his Ivorian citizenship when he acquired French nationality nearly four decades ago. Though Thiam renounced his French nationality in March to meet the electoral requirement barring dual nationals, the court found that he was no longer legally Ivorian at the time of the renunciation.
Thiam’s lawyers argued that he was French by birth—through his father—and thus did not forfeit his Ivorian nationality. But the court dismissed this claim, siding instead with the plaintiff, Bernard N’zi Kokora, who stated: ‘It was my duty as a citizen to uphold the law, and I believe the court has just done so.’
‘The court concluded that Mr Thiam lost his Ivorian nationality upon acquiring French nationality, and therefore granted the petitioners’ request to strike him from the electoral roll,’ said Thiam’s lawyer, Ange Rodrigue Dadje.
Tensions rise ahead of crucial election
Thiam’s exclusion adds to an already fraught political atmosphere in Cote d’Ivoire, just six months before the nation heads to the polls. Three other prominent political figures—former president Laurent Gbagbo, ex-minister Charles Blé Goudé, and exiled former rebel leader Guillaume Soro—have all been similarly barred from contesting based on legal grounds.
‘This is a political trial masquerading as a legal process,’ said Simon Doho, leader of the PDCI’s parliamentary group. ‘We have left the realm of justice and entered the realm of politics.’
Thiam’s camp claims the ruling reflects coordinated ‘manoeuvres’ by the ruling party to cripple the opposition ahead of the vote. The PDCI has historically been one of Cote d’Ivoire’s most powerful political blocs but has struggled to reclaim the presidency since the early 2000s.
Ruling party distances itself
The ruling Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) has denied any involvement in the court process. Spokesperson Mamadou Touré told AFP: ‘When justice is in their favour, it is independent; when it is not, it is manipulated. We have nothing to do with this case and make no comment on court decisions.’
Despite not yet declaring a candidate, the RHDP has urged President Alassane Ouattara to run for a fourth term. The 83-year-old has led the country since 2011 and is expected to announce his political intentions during a party congress in June.
Opposition left reeling
Thiam’s disqualification has left the PDCI scrambling to reassess its electoral strategy. Many within the party view him as a transformative figure, capable of attracting both local and international support. A former CEO of Credit Suisse and one-time government minister, Thiam’s candidacy had revitalised interest in the opposition camp.
‘Make no mistake, this decision is not just about me,’ Thiam said in a statement. ‘It is about whether Ivorians will be allowed a real choice in October.’
Whether or not the PDCI can find an equally compelling candidate in time for the elections remains to be seen. For now, the party must grapple with what many view as a judicial decision with long-reaching political consequences.
