By In a controversial ruling, Ivory Coast’s judiciary has struck the main opposition leader, Tidjane Thiam, from the country’s electoral register, effectively barring him from contesting the upcoming presidential election in October. The decision, announced on Tuesday, has ignited fierce debate over the state of democracy in the West African nation, with critics accusing the government of stifling political competition ahead of a pivotal vote.
The court’s ruling hinges on a legal technicality: Thiam, a prominent figure in global finance and leader of the centre-right Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI), was deemed to have lost his Ivorian citizenship when he acquired French nationality in 1987. Despite Thiam renouncing his French citizenship earlier this year to comply with Ivory Coast’s eligibility laws, the court upheld that his earlier acquisition of foreign citizenship invalidated his Ivorian nationality under a 1960s law. Thiam’s legal team argued he held dual nationality by birth through his father, a status that should exempt him from the rule, but the judge rejected the defense.
“This is a deliberate attack on the democratic process,” Thiam said in a statement following the ruling. “By removing me from the electoral roll, the government is denying the voice of millions who seek change after years of single-party dominance.” Thiam, who was unanimously selected as the PDCI’s candidate just last week with over 99% of the delegate votes, had positioned himself as a formidable challenger to the ruling Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) party.
The decision comes amid a broader crackdown on opposition figures in Ivory Coast. Former President Laurent Gbagbo, his ally Charles Blé Goudé, and exiled former Prime Minister Guillaume Soro have also been excluded from the electoral list in recent months, raising concerns about the fairness of the upcoming election. President Alassane Ouattara, now 83, has not officially confirmed his candidacy but is widely expected to seek a fourth term, despite constitutional limits that cap presidential tenure at two terms—a rule Ouattara has argued was reset by a 2016 constitutional amendment.
Ivory Coast’s electoral history is fraught with tension. In 2020, Ouattara secured a third term with 94% of the vote, but the election was marred by an opposition boycott and low voter turnout, prompting international observers to question its legitimacy. The 2010 election, which Ouattara won, led to a violent conflict after incumbent Gbagbo refused to concede, resulting in over 3,000 deaths. Political analysts fear that the exclusion of key opposition figures like Thiam could deepen divisions in a country still grappling with the legacy of its civil conflicts.
Public reaction to the court’s decision has been swift and polarized. On social media platforms like X, some users decried the ruling as “lawfare” aimed at undermining democracy. “This isn’t justice—it’s a power grab,” wrote one user, echoing sentiments shared by Thiam’s supporters. Others, however, appeared indifferent, with some focusing on unrelated issues like cryptocurrency trends, reflecting the diverse priorities of Ivory Coast’s online community.
Thiam, a former CEO of Credit Suisse and a trailblazer as the first Ivorian to attend France’s prestigious Polytechnique school, has long been a polarizing figure. After a successful international career, he returned to Ivorian politics with a promise to modernize the economy and address systemic inequalities. His removal from the electoral list now threatens to derail those ambitions and has left the PDCI scrambling to regroup ahead of the election.
The RHDP, meanwhile, has remained tight-lipped about its plans. Political observers speculate that Ouattara’s party may be leveraging legal mechanisms to clear the field of strong contenders, a tactic reminiscent of past elections. “The pattern is clear,” said Kofi Mensah, a political analyst based in Abidjan. “By disqualifying opposition leaders, the ruling party ensures minimal resistance at the polls. But this strategy risks further alienating the electorate and fueling unrest.”
As the October election approaches, Ivory Coast stands at a crossroads. With major opposition voices sidelined, the integrity of the democratic process hangs in the balance, and the international community will be watching closely to see whether the country can navigate its political challenges without descending into another cycle of violence.
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