COTE d’Ivoire’s main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Cote d’Ivoire (PDCI), said on Monday it had launched legal action to overturn a court ruling that bars its leader, Tidjane Thiam, from contesting this year’s presidential election. The move comes as political tensions escalate six months ahead of the crucial vote.
Thiam, a 62-year-old former international banker who was recently elected party president, was removed from the country’s electoral list last week after a court ruled that he had lost his Ivorian nationality by acquiring French citizenship in 1987.
With the court’s decision considered final, the ruling blocks Thiam from being a candidate in the October 2025 election—a serious blow to the PDCI’s presidential ambitions.
Lawyers allege legal breach in ruling
Despite the absence of a formal appeal mechanism, Thiam’s legal team is mounting a procedural challenge, alleging that the judge failed to properly communicate the decision to the judicial authorities.
‘We are demanding another trial with another judge,’ said Luc Adje Kacou, a lawyer for the PDCI, during a press briefing. He described the original process as flawed and argued that judicial standards were not upheld.
The dispute centres on Cote d’Ivoire’s nationality code, which states that citizens automatically lose their Ivorian nationality upon acquiring another, unless they hold dual nationality by birth.
Thiam denounces decision as ‘democratic vandalism’
Thiam, born in Cote d’Ivoire, acquired French citizenship in 1987 during his professional career abroad but formally renounced it in March 2025 to meet eligibility criteria for the presidency.
His legal team maintains that he should be considered a dual national by birth through his father and therefore exempt from disqualification. However, the court rejected this claim, citing ‘insufficient proof’ of his dual nationality status.
Thiam has sharply criticised the ruling, calling it ‘democratic vandalism’ and vowing to remain the PDCI’s standard-bearer in the election.
‘I am Ivorian. I have always been and will remain,’ he declared. ‘This ruling is a direct attack on our democratic rights and the will of the people.’
Tensions rise ahead of the polls
Thiam’s disqualification is only the latest in a growing list of political flashpoints in Cote d’Ivoire. Former president Laurent Gbagbo and two other political figures have also been barred from contesting the October vote, fuelling fears that the electoral process is being manipulated to suppress opposition.
Opposition leaders and civil society groups have criticised the nationality rules as outdated and selectively enforced. They accuse the ruling authorities of using legal technicalities to disqualify strong challengers.
Thiam had emerged as a consensus figure capable of revitalising the opposition landscape. His sudden exclusion from the race has raised alarms both domestically and internationally over the fairness of the upcoming election.
Legal battle continues
The PDCI’s procedural challenge could be one of the last legal tools available to reinstate Thiam’s candidacy. With no formal appeal allowed under current law, the party is pushing to re-open the case on technical grounds.
Supporters have urged regional and international observers to pay close attention to the unfolding situation, warning that further political exclusion may irreparably damage Cote d’Ivoire’s democratic credibility.
As the legal and political standoff unfolds, the coming weeks will prove critical for the future of the country’s electoral integrity.
