Ivory Coast Opposition Leader Resigns Amid Disqualification, Vows to Fight On
Ivory Coast’s main opposition figure, Tidjane Thiam, has resigned as leader of the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI) after being barred from contesting the October 2025 presidential election—but insists he’s not stepping away from the race.
Thiam, a former international banker, has faced months of legal challenges over his Ivorian nationality. A court in Abidjan recently disqualified him from the electoral list, citing a decades-old nationality law that strips Ivorian citizenship upon acquiring another. Thiam became a French citizen in 1987 but formally renounced it in March to pursue his presidential ambitions.
“In the interest of the party, I place my mandate in your hands,” Thiam said in a video address. However, he reaffirmed his determination to lead PDCI to victory: “This decision does not weaken my commitment to win in 2025.”
Following his resignation, PDCI’s deputy president, 92-year-old Ernest N’Koumo Mobio, has assumed interim leadership. He convened an emergency meeting to rally support and maintain unity within the party.
Supporters gathered outside PDCI headquarters in Abidjan, holding signs such as “Don’t touch my right to vote,” amid a heavy police presence. Many view Thiam’s disqualification as part of a broader pattern of sidelining opposition leaders, with several others—including former President Laurent Gbagbo—also barred from the race.
Thiam condemned what he called a “tailor-made” election strategy: “The unjustified removal of opposition candidates is designed to ensure a predetermined outcome.”
Meanwhile, President Alassane Ouattara, 83, has yet to announce whether he will seek another term, though he has expressed a desire to continue serving.
Thiam’s exit from party leadership may reduce his legal exposure, but his political resolve appears undiminished—setting the stage for a high-stakes battle in one of West Africa’s most watched elections.
