Ivory Coast Opposition Leader Resigns Amid Disqualification, Vows Election Fight

Tidjane Thiam, Ivory Coast’s main opposition leader and former Credit Suisse CEO, has resigned as head of the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI) amid legal disputes over his eligibility to run for president in the October 2025 election. A court in Abidjan struck him off the electoral list, ruling that he lost Ivorian nationality when he acquired French citizenship in 1987, although he renounced his French passport in March 2024 to qualify. Despite stepping down as party leader, Thiam reaffirmed his commitment to lead the opposition’s campaign and fight the election, with the party’s vice president taking over as interim leader. His disqualification is part of a broader pattern that has sidelined several opposition figures, including former president Laurent Gbagbo. Amidst high political tensions, supporters have rallied in Thiam’s favor, viewing the moves as attempts to predetermine the election outcome in favor of 83-year-old President Alassane Ouattara, who is widely expected to seek a controversial fourth term. The situation remains dynamic as Thiam awaits a May 15 court ruling on his eligibility and continues to appeal his removal from the voters’ roll.