Ivory Coast Bars Top Opposition Leaders From Presidential Election

Ivory Coast has barred two key opposition figures, former President Laurent Gbagbo and ex-Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam, from contesting the upcoming presidential election where President Alassane Ouattara seeks a contentious fourth term. The Constitutional Council excluded them based on their removal from the electoral roll, citing nationality issues for Thiam, who holds French citizenship, and a criminal conviction for Gbagbo. Despite their disqualifications, both submitted their candidacies, with Thiam criticizing the election as a setup for Ouattara's unconstitutional fourth term. Ouattara, 83, will face five candidates including Simone Gbagbo, Laurent Gbagbo's ex-wife, who was granted amnesty after a conviction related to the 2011 civil war. The decision has heightened tensions in Ivory Coast, a country with a history of election-related violence, though the government has pledged a peaceful vote. Analysts largely expect Ouattara to win given the weakened opposition field and the recent constitutional changes he argues reset term limits.