A court in Côte d’Ivoire has disqualified the leader of the country’s leading opposition party, Tidjane Thiam, from participating in the forthcoming presidential election, deepening political unrest ahead of the October polls.
The ruling, delivered on Tuesday, removed Thiam from the electoral register on grounds that he lost his Ivorian citizenship when he obtained French nationality in 1987. By Ivorian law, this disqualifies him from running for office or voting.
Thiam, who recently took the reins of the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI), sharply criticised the court’s decision, describing it as a blow to democratic values. His legal counsel, Ange Rodrigue Dadje, confirmed the ruling and explained that it was based on Article 48 of the nationality code which is a provision enacted in the 1960s which states that citizens automatically forfeit Ivorian nationality if they adopt another, except in cases of dual citizenship from birth.
Though Thiam formally renounced his French citizenship in March in a bid to meet candidacy requirements, the court maintained that his earlier naturalisation had already invalidated his Ivorian status. His legal team argued that he was French by descent through his father, which, in their view, should not have affected his Ivorian citizenship. The court rejected the claim, and the decision is not subject to appeal.
Thiam’s removal from the race has drawn sharp reactions from his party and its supporters. Simon Doho, who leads the PDCI parliamentary bloc, alleged that the judgement was politically charged and aimed at sidelining formidable challengers.
“This was never just a legal matter. It was a political process from start to finish,” Doho said.
Meanwhile, the ruling party, the Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP), has distanced itself from the matter. Speaking to journalists, RHDP spokesperson Mamadou Touré denied any involvement.
“When verdicts favour the opposition, they hail the courts as impartial. When they don’t, they claim interference. We won’t be drawn into this debate,” he remarked.
Thiam had only recently been confirmed as the PDCI’s presidential flagbearer, setting up what many expected to be a keenly contested election. Despite the legal setback, he has signalled his determination to remain politically active.
“There’s still time before October. I’m aware of the challenges ahead,” he said earlier this month.
He now joins a list of prominent opposition figures blocked from contesting, including former president Laurent Gbagbo, political ally Charles Blé Goudé, and exiled former prime minister Guillaume Soro, all of whom have been declared ineligible by the judiciary.
As the political field continues to narrow, the RHDP has yet to declare its candidate. However, there are growing calls within the party for President Alassane Ouattara, now 83, to seek another term. A formal decision is expected at the party’s upcoming congress in June.
