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Former Credit Suisse chief executive Tidjane Thiam has faced a setback in his bid to run for president in Ivory Coast’s upcoming election. The court of first instance in Abidjan has ruled that Thiam should be removed from the electoral register, effectively ending his chances of running in the October vote.
The ruling comes as a blow to Thiam, who was expected to be a strong contender against President Alassane Ouattara’s ruling party. Thiam, who renounced his French citizenship earlier this year in order to meet the eligibility criteria for the presidential race, has described the court’s decision as “democratic vandalism” aimed at disenfranchising voters.
Thiam, who was born in Abidjan and previously held dual French and Ivorian citizenship, has been a prominent figure in Ivorian politics. He won the leadership of the opposition Democratic party in 2023 and was officially named as its presidential candidate just last week.
In a statement following the court ruling, Thiam called on the international community to support Ivorian voters in their quest for free and fair elections. He also urged Ivory Coast’s political leaders to unite and allow him to run in the election, pointing to a precedent set by Ouattara in 2010 when he was able to contest the poll despite being barred twice before.
President Ouattara, who has been in power since 2010, has yet to announce whether he will seek another term in office. His controversial third presidential term in 2020 sparked protests and raised concerns about democratic norms in the country. Top officials in Ouattara’s party have urged him to run again in the upcoming election.
The court’s decision to remove Thiam from the electoral register has raised questions about the fairness and transparency of the electoral process in Ivory Coast. Thiam’s supporters have criticized the ruling as a politically motivated move to eliminate a strong rival to the ruling party.
As the country prepares for the October election, the outcome remains uncertain. The international community will be closely watching to see how the situation unfolds and whether Ivorian voters will have the opportunity to choose their next leader in a free and fair election.
