Keypoints:
- Thousands rally in Abidjan over Thiam’s exclusion
- PDCI decries electoral body’s ‘arbitrary’ move
- Ouattara expected to seek fourth term
THOUSANDS of demonstrators took to the streets of Côte d’Ivoire’s commercial capital Abidjan on Saturday, demanding the reinstatement of opposition figure Tidjane Thiam to the presidential race, following his controversial disqualification by the electoral commission earlier this month.
Braving heavy rains, protesters gathered near the offices of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI), holding placards and chanting slogans like ‘Thithi president’ and ‘Corrupt justice’, in a display of growing dissatisfaction with the political process.
Thiam, a former Credit Suisse CEO and high-profile technocrat, was removed from the final list of presidential candidates on June 4, along with three other opposition leaders. The CEI cited a previous court ruling that disqualified him due to dual nationality—a decision Thiam has publicly vowed to challenge.
Legal dispute over nationality fuels unrest
According to reporting by the Associated Press (AP), the controversy stems from Thiam’s dual Ivorian and French nationality. Though born in Côte d’Ivoire, Thiam acquired French citizenship in 1987, which he formally renounced in March 2025 in a bid to meet candidacy requirements.
Despite this, a court ruled earlier this year that his previous French nationality rendered him ineligible, sparking widespread outrage among his supporters. In a video message posted on Facebook, Thiam thanked the demonstrators and urged continued resistance.
‘Beyond my own case, this is a movement to ensure democracy prevails in our country,’ Thiam said. ‘I will soon be with you in Abidjan so we can continue this fight.’
Senior members of his Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI) were permitted into the CEI’s offices during the protest, where they submitted a formal demand for the reinstatement of all excluded candidates.
‘We strongly denounce the arbitrary and unjust removal of Thiam and other key opposition leaders from the electoral list,’ PDCI Executive Secretary Sylvestre Emmou told journalists following the meeting.
Political tension builds ahead of key vote
The protest reflects a broader wave of discontent sweeping through the West African nation in the lead-up to the presidential election scheduled for October 25. Tensions have escalated not only over the opposition disqualifications but also amid speculation that President Alassane Ouattara will seek another term.
Ouattara has ruled since 2011 and is currently serving his third term. Although the Ivorian constitution limits presidents to two terms, he claims the limit doesn’t apply to him due to the adoption of a new constitution in 2016.
His 2020 re-election—boycotted by major opposition parties—remains a source of political friction, and many fear a repeat of the violence that marred the 2010 vote, when more than 3,000 people were killed in post-election clashes.
With the ruling party expected to hold a congress later this month where Ouattara could announce his candidacy, pressure is mounting both within and outside the country for a credible and inclusive electoral process.
