ABIDJAN, April 23, 2025 — Ivory Coast’s political landscape has been rocked by controversy just months ahead of the country’s crucial presidential election scheduled for October 25. Tidjane Thiam, a prominent figure and leader of the country’s main opposition party, has been officially struck off the electoral list following a ruling by an Ivorian court that determined he no longer holds Ivorian nationality — a decision that is final and not subject to appeal.
The ruling, handed down on Tuesday, April 22, concluded that Thiam lost his Ivorian citizenship when he acquired French nationality in 1987, despite having renounced it earlier this year to meet the presidential eligibility requirements.
According to Thiam’s lawyer, Me Ange Rodrigue Dadjé, the court based its ruling on the principle that acquiring another nationality leads to the loss of Ivorian nationality, as stipulated in Article 48 of the nationality code from the 1960s.
Under Ivorian law, presidential candidates must hold only Ivorian nationality. The court’s interpretation of the law suggests that once another nationality is acquired — even if later renounced — the loss of Ivorian nationality is automatic and irreversible unless a formal reapplication process is completed and approved by the state.
Thiam, a former CEO of Credit Suisse and respected international financier, has long been viewed as a strong contender in the October elections. His campaign had gained significant momentum as he promised to bring economic reform, restore democratic governance, and promote national unity.
Controversy and Claims of Political Targeting
The court’s decision has drawn fierce criticism from Thiam’s supporters, who allege that the ruling is part of a broader political strategy to eliminate strong opposition voices ahead of the polls.
“This is a clear maneuver to sideline one of the most credible challengers to the ruling party,” said a spokesperson from Thiam’s campaign team. “The government is manipulating legal technicalities to suppress democratic choice.”
Supporters argue that Thiam’s case was mishandled by the court, particularly regarding his claim to dual nationality by birth. Thiam’s legal team had presented documentation asserting that he inherited French citizenship from his father and thus qualified as a dual national from birth — an important distinction, as Article 48 of the Ivorian nationality code does not apply to those who are born with dual nationality.
“The court refused to recognize evidence that Thiam was French by birth,” lawyer Dadjé explained. “This distinction is essential and yet was completely ignored by the judges.”
Thiam’s Political Background and Popularity
Born in Ivory Coast in 1962, Tidjane Thiam is a highly educated technocrat with degrees from France’s École Polytechnique and the École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris. He held ministerial positions in the Ivorian government during the 1990s before embarking on a successful career in international finance. His return to Ivorian politics was welcomed by many who viewed him as a symbol of competence, modernity, and clean leadership.
Thiam renounced his French citizenship in March 2025 in a bid to fulfill the constitutional criteria required for presidential candidates. The move was seen as a strong indication of his commitment to Ivory Coast. However, Tuesday’s court ruling rendered the gesture moot.
Opposition Leaders Under Siege
Thiam is not the only high-profile opposition figure to face disqualification. Former president Laurent Gbagbo, his longtime ally Charles Blé Goudé, and ex-prime minister Guillaume Soro have all been removed from the electoral list in recent months over various legal and judicial controversies. Critics argue that this pattern of exclusion reflects a systematic attempt by the current government to consolidate power and weaken democratic competition.
International observers and local civil society groups have expressed growing concern over the integrity of the upcoming election. The removal of leading candidates from the race raises serious questions about fairness and inclusiveness in a country still healing from past political unrest.
A Nation at a Crossroads
Ivory Coast, the world’s largest cocoa producer, has enjoyed relative stability in recent years following a tumultuous decade of civil conflict and contested elections. However, this latest development threatens to inflame political tensions and could destabilize the fragile peace.
“Ivory Coast is once again at a dangerous crossroads,” said political analyst Franck Oussou. “When courts are perceived to be tools of the executive, democracy suffers. Excluding leading opposition voices only breeds mistrust and potentially unrest.”
Thiam’s disqualification leaves the opposition in disarray, with no obvious unifying figure capable of challenging the incumbent president’s likely re-election bid. While Thiam’s camp has vowed to continue fighting through other legal and political channels, the path forward remains uncertain.
What Next for Thiam and the Opposition?
For now, Tidjane Thiam remains a central figure in Ivorian politics, even if his presidential hopes appear dashed for 2025. His team has not ruled out the possibility of appealing through international legal mechanisms or petitioning the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
“We are reviewing all our options,” a campaign advisor said on Wednesday. “This is not just about one man. It’s about the future of our democracy.”
The coming weeks will be crucial as political parties regroup and assess the new landscape shaped by the court’s ruling. As Ivory Coast edges closer to election day, many citizens are left wondering whether the vote will be a true reflection of the people’s will — or a predetermined contest decided by judicial fiat.
