In a significant political development, Tidjane Thiam, the prominent opposition leader in Ivory Coast, has been removed from the electoral roll, rendering him ineligible to contest in the upcoming presidential election scheduled for October. This ruling by the judiciary has raised concerns about the integrity of the democratic process in the country.
Thiam, who previously renounced his French citizenship to pursue his presidential aspirations, found himself at the heart of controversy when the court determined that he had forfeited his Ivorian nationality upon acquiring French citizenship back in 1987. The court’s decision, which is final and cannot be appealed, poses a serious threat to Thiam’s political ambitions.
“It’s no surprise that this court ruling comes as our support among voters continues to grow. After 15 years in power, RHDP leaders are running scared. They want to monopolise power rather than face the judgement of the electorate.”
Political Implications and Thiam’s Response
Thiam’s disqualification follows his recent nomination as the sole candidate for the centre-right Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI), where he secured an overwhelming majority of 5,321 votes out of 5,348. This nomination came as a significant boost to his campaign, highlighting his growing popularity among voters.
The ruling party, known as RHDP, has yet to announce its candidate for the election, although it is widely expected that the current president, Alassane Ouattara, who is 83 years old, will seek a fourth term. The political landscape is further complicated by the fact that three other notable figures, including former President Laurent Gbagbo, have also been barred from running, raising questions about the fairness of the electoral process.
Thiam’s Political Journey
Thiam’s political career began after he made history as the first Ivorian to pass the entrance exam to France’s prestigious Polytechnique engineering school. Upon his return to Ivory Coast, he entered politics and became the planning minister in 1998 at the age of 36. However, his political ascent was cut short when the PDCI was ousted from power in a coup the following year.
Following this upheaval, Thiam relocated abroad, where he enjoyed a successful career in business, holding esteemed positions in major companies such as Aviva, Prudential, and Credit Suisse. Notably, he stepped down from Credit Suisse in 2020 after a spying scandal but has been cleared of any wrongdoing in relation to that incident.
The ongoing developments concerning Thiam’s candidacy and the political landscape in Ivory Coast will be closely monitored as the election date approaches.