Ivory Coast opposition leader calls for 'credible' vote
The leader of Ivory Coast's main opposition party on Friday called for an "inclusive, transparent and credible" presidential election, although he is barred from standing due to a dispute over his nationality.
The west African country must show that it has reached "a sufficient level of political maturity to stop excluding presidential candidates", Tidjane Thiam said in an interview with AFP in Brussels.
Thiam resigned as leader of the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI) on Monday and was re-elected to the post two days later in a vote where he was the only candidate.
A legal dispute over his nationality prompted his resignation in order to stand again and win re-election.
But the move has not resolved the question of his eligibility to run for president of Ivory Coast in the October 25 election.
Three other opposition figures have also been excluded from the presidential race due to convictions, including former president Laurent Gbagbo.
"The essential thing is for Ivory Coast to hold an inclusive, transparent and credible election, and to show that it is capable of a peaceful transfer of power, as Senegal and Ghana have done," Thiam said.
The 62-year-old, who has been outside the country for nearly two months, was struck off the electoral list by an Abidjan court last month.
The court said Thiam lost his Ivorian nationality when he acquired French citizenship in 1987, basing its ruling on a 1961 law.
"That law is obsolete, it has never been applied to anyone in 64 years, and they've used it to erase me from the electoral list," said Thiam, a great-nephew of Ivory Coast's founding president Felix Houphouet-Boigny.
Thiam, who was born in Ivory Coast, renounced his French nationality in March to enable his run for the top job.
The authorities have consistently denied political interference in the election process, insisting that such decisions rest with an independent judiciary.
Thiam was in Brussels to attend a protest by Ivorian opposition supporters outside European Union institutions.
He said he had no plans to return home yet, citing uncertainty over the status of his identity documents.
"We asked for a nationality certificate from the justice ministry 10 days ago and we're still waiting... You need valid papers to travel, that's the decision of the authorities," he said.
According to Thiam, his national status -- whether single or dual citizenship –- remains unclear. "I was told I'm Ivorian again, but through a mechanism that nobody understands.
"Some accuse me of having fraudulently regained Ivorian nationality."
Ivorian authorities insist that only the courts can change the electoral list now.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Maverick
3 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Jacob Zuma's future looks rocky as court trial looms and MK woes heat up
The National Prosecuting Authority wants to get Jacob Zuma in the dock without further delay, and the former president must also contend with his political party once again being in turmoil. Hours after the High Court in Pietermaritzburg this week dismissed Jacob Zuma's application to have the Arms Deal charges against him thrown out, the former president held a media briefing to announce that his uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party had once again fired a secretary-general. This time, Floyd Shivambu was shown the door. The long-running Arms Deal case involving Zuma and French arms company Thales is set to proceed after Judge Nkosinathi Chili dismissed the two parties' application, which had been brought on the basis that they wouldn't receive a fair trial because the case had dragged on for decades and two witnesses, former Thales directors, had died. The judge said he was not persuaded by their arguments. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga said the organisation had long believed that this was a 'rehearsed application' and felt vindicated by Judge Chili's decision. The NPA will now apply for the court to begin hearing evidence after the trial resumes in December, regardless of whether Zuma appeals against the decision. 'We hope that there will be no more interlocutory applications that will have an undesirable impact or effect of delaying the trial,' said Mhaga. 'We hope it resumes without any further delays.' Zuma and Thales face charges including corruption, racketeering, money laundering and fraud related to the 1999 Arms Deal. Zuma is accused of receiving payments totalling R4.1-million between 1995 and 2004 from his former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, and his companies, allegedly to promote Thales' interests. Zuma has repeatedly challenged elements of the case, particularly the involvement of prosecutor Billy Downer, which has led to significant delays. Shivambu's axing Meanwhile, the revolving doors at Zuma's MK party, which he banded together from disgruntled members of the ANC, EFF and IFP, continue to spin. This latest decision to remove former EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu from his position as secretary-general of the MK party leaves a key position vacant as the 2026 local government elections draw nearer. The role of the secretary-general in many a local political party is seen as crucial and powerful as this person is tasked with overseeing day-to-day operations and ensuring the smooth running of its internal machinery. In MK this position is now vacant after Shivambu recently visited fugitive pastor and self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri in Malawi. The Enlightened Christian Gathering Church founder faces more than 350 criminal charges in South Africa including fraud, money laundering, racketeering and rape. Shivambu, who will be deployed to Parliament, insisted on an interview on SABC last week Zuma himself had approved the trip, but this was denied. Even now, Shivambu's reasons for the trip remain unclear. The visit violated MK's constitution, national chairperson Nkosinathi Nhleko said earlier this week. Some senior members of the party have argued that removing Shivambu was a calculated strategic decision. Others believe it was driven by tribal loyalties, and perhaps most significantly, some view it as part of a succession battle in the MK party. In his influential positions, first as national organiser and then as secretary-general of MK, Shivambu amassed considerable control over key aspects of the party, including political education, governance, building structures and party finances. His rise was increasingly seen as an attempt to position himself as a future MK leader, which some believe threatened the influence of the party's founders. Who will Zuma appoint? The search is now on for MK's next secretary-general – the party's sixth one since its formation in December 2023. According to MK's constitution, Zuma as party president has the prerogative to hire and fire its leaders at will. An insider said: 'It all boils down to what Nxamalala [Zuma] decides.' Daily Maverick understands from sources in the MK party that internal lobbying for the position is taking place. The names of one of the party's founding members, Phumlani Mfeka, and spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela are among those going round as Shivambu's potential successors. Daily Maverick understands that in the past two weeks, Zuma has had meetings with both Mfeka and Ndhlela. Prior to the meetings, Zuma met allied traditional leaders, who expressed their views on who should take over the reins, endorsing Mfeka. Mfeka is a member of the Injeje yabeNguni Council, a traditional leadership body. Earlier this year, he resigned from both MK and his position in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature, citing a deviation from the party's founding principles and the sidelining of traditional leadership structures. Prior to his involvement with the MK party, Mfeka was associated with a Pan-Africanist civic group. He later endorsed the Mazibuye African Congress, a pro-Zuma political party. Mfeka was already receiving 'special treatment' as per Zuma's instructions, a source said. Traditional leader Prince Khulekani Dlomo said amakhosi (chiefs) hoped that talk of Mfeka's appointment would become a reality. 'We are in prayers as amakhosi for these murmurs to become a reality. We would be thankful if such a position was taken up by someone with royal blood.' Beyond Mfeka's roots, Dlomo said he was the man for the job, praising his character and commitment to traditional leadership. 'It would bring about much stability and respect in various structures and communities… He is a bright child, a very truthful and principled young man.' But, equally, there is a strong push to have Ndhlela, the nephew of former South African Revenue Service (SARS) commissioner Tom Moyane, take up the position. In 2016, amaBhungane broke a story revealing that a company controlled by Ndhlela had won a R2.2-billion tax collection contract from SARS that could net him around R220-million. Ndhlela has been MK's only national spokesperson since the party's launch. Considering the regular reshuffling, resignations and sackings taking place in MK, this is quite an achievement. For example, the positions of secretary-general and treasurer-general have been occupied by eight individuals in the space of a year. This has all taken place without MK ever holding an elective conference or explaining the party's decisions to its constituency. 'More damage than good' Some party members have welcomed Shivambu's axing. 'All of us are relieved at how things have played out. I think it's safe to say the biggest battle has been won,' one MK insider said. In September 2024, Shivambu led the party's municipal campaign in ward 33 in eThekwini, his first as a national organiser. It should have been a shoo-in for MK in an area where the DA was failing and the ANC was basically dead. The MK party had won more than 45% of the vote in KwaZulu-Natal in May last year, but Shivambu's efforts fell flat as its share of the vote dropped significantly in the by-election. Though MK has improved its votes in several other by-elections, it has struggled to maintain the momentum of the 2024 general elections. The insider said of Shivambu's time as a leader in the party: 'He did a lot more damage than good. We were bleeding people in KZN who are not used to that kind of leadership style. Come elections, we are confident that we will be able to recover lost ground.' Patrick Sindane, a former MK party member who chose to leave, dismissed claims that Shivambu's removal was a strategic decision, as some have suggested. Reflecting on his time in the party as someone with EFF roots, Sindane offered a blistering account of MK's internal dynamics on Radio 702. 'We were still associated and identified as EFF members and life is extremely difficult for you in MK if you come from the EFF, I can tell you from my own experiences,' he said. Whenever those who had defected from the EFF made suggestions about how the party ought to be run, they would be accused of 'bringing an EFF mentality, trying to hijack the organisation, and wanting to take over the organisation'. An MK party source said Zuma was particularly unimpressed with Shivambu's conduct, but feared getting rid of him as this might bring about more instability ahead of the local elections. This led to his redeployment to Parliament. 'It is not a strategic move. The only reason he gets to stay is to try to find some stability and work towards the local government elections, but beyond that, his days are numbered,' the source said. Tough times ahead As Shivambu prepares to make a comeback in Parliament, difficult times await him, particularly because the MK party is led in the house by John Hlophe, with whom he is rumoured not to be on good terms. He will also have to work with the likes of Ndhlela and Zuma's daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, who are said to be part of a faction that believes high-profile members who came from the EFF and ANC and were parachuted into senior positions, including Shivambu, Dali Mpofu, Mzwanele Manyi and Willies Mchunu, are destroying what the 'December 2023 crew' had started. On one occasion, Zuma-Sambudla publicly insulted Shivambu, calling him 'useless' and 'the worst thing that happened to MK'. She was later forcedto apologise. Shivambu will also work closely with Colleen Makhubele, who was recently appointed as MK's chief whip. Though Shivambu is more seasoned in parliamentary affairs, Makhubele holds seniority in rank and now occupies one of the top leadership roles in the party's caucus. Before her parliamentary debut, Makhubele led the South African Rainbow Alliance, a fledgling political outfit she had founded in the run-up to the 2024 elections. Despite bold ambitions, it barely made a dent at the polls, securing only 12,450 votes nationwide – a mere 0.03% – and later joined the chorus of voices alleging the elections had been rigged. Beyond these challenges, Shivambu's return also carries the burden of unresolved tensions with former EFF colleagues and the need to prove his political relevance beyond his time in the red berets. His comeback could also revive old rivalries. DM This story first appeared in our weekly DM168 newspaper, available countrywide for R35.
Eyewitness News
4 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Activist aid ship nears Gaza after reaching Egypt coast: organisers
CAIRO, Egypt - An aid ship with 12 activists on board, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, has reached the Egyptian coast and is nearing the besieged Palestinian territory, organisers said on Saturday. The Madleen, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, left Sicily last week with a cargo of relief supplies "to break Israel's blockade on Gaza". "We are now sailing off the Egyptian coast," German human rights activist Yasemin Acar told AFP. "We are all good," she added. In a statement from London on Saturday, the International Committee for Breaking the Siege of Gaza -- a member organisation of the flotilla coalition -- said the ship had entered Egyptian waters. The group said it remains in contact with international legal and human rights bodies to ensure the safety of those on board, warning that any interception would constitute "a blatant violation of international humanitarian law". European parliament member Rima Hassan, who is on board the vessel, urged governments to "guarantee safe passage for the Freedom Flotilla." The Palestinian territory was under Israeli naval blockade even before the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas that sparked the Gaza war and Israel has enforced its blockade with military action in the past. A 2010 commando raid on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, which was part of a similar aid flotilla trying to breach the blockade, left 10 civilians dead. In May, another Freedom Flotilla ship, the Conscience, reported coming under drone attack while en route for Gaza, prompting Cyprus and Malta to send rescue vessels in response to its distress call. There were no reports of any casualties. Earlier in its voyage, the Madleen changed course near the Greek island of Crete after receiving a distress signal from a sinking migrant boat. Activists rescued four Sudanese migrants who had jumped into the sea to avoid being returned to Libya. The four were later transferred to an EU Frontex vessel. Launched in 2010, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition is a coalition of groups opposed to the blockade on humanitarian aid for Gaza that Israel imposed on March 2 and has only partially eased since. Israel has faced mounting international condemnation over the resulting humanitarian crisis in the territory, where the United Nations has warned the entire population of more than two million is at risk of famine.
The Citizen
4 hours ago
- The Citizen
‘Is it greed or jealousy?': Ramaphosa fires back at critics of BEE, Transformation Fund
The president pushed back against the argument that BEE is a cost to the economy. President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on 16 September 2022. Picture: AFP / Saul Loeb President Cyril Ramaphosa has come out swinging against critics of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), questioning whether their opposition is rooted in 'greed' or 'jealousy'. Ramaphosa was speaking during his keynote address at the gala dinner of the Black Business Council's annual summit held at the Radisson Hotel and Convention Centre in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni. The two-day summit concluded on Friday. National dialogue and socioeconomic challenges Delivering his speech, Ramaphosa reiterated the government's commitment to hosting a national dialogue to develop solutions for the country's pressing issues. 'Some of these challenges manifest themselves in a number of problems that people not only in our country are facing. 'Cost of living crises are widespread and they impact largely disproportionately on poor people and even middle-income households,' he said. ALSO READ: DA is crippling the government's transformation agenda – labour minister The president acknowledged that while unemployment is a global issue, South Africa is particularly affected. 'We have the worst unemployment problem, especially youth unemployment.' He highlighted the mistrust in institutions, attributing it to high levels of corruption and state capture. Economic growth through transformation Ramaphosa emphasised the potential of the government of national unity (GNU) in driving transformation. He said growth of the country's economy will happen through transformation. 'That is the reality. Transformation is vital if growth is to be meaningful and is to be inclusive as well as to be sustainable. 'There are those who say, dump transformation, dump the black economic empowerment. READ MORE: Affirmative-action measures must 'not go too far', argues DA in court 'Dump it because it is inhibiting growth and I argue that it is what happened in the past that we have to transform and to change, and we can only do so through transformation to grow our economy.' He referred to the Constitution as the foundation for transformation policies. 'The heart of our Constitution is around the equality clause, which says that steps and measures and laws must be made to redress the injustices of our past and we will not get away from that,' the president told delegates. 'It is what happened in the past that we must never forget, for it must inform what we need to do now, and it must inspire what we should do in the future. That's what we need to do and it's not limited to a few laws, policies or regulations.' Watch Ramaphosa's speech below: Ramaphosa defends BEE Ramaphosa stated that legislative frameworks like the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) and the Employment Equity Act are crucial tools for driving transformation. Despite progress in narrowing the equality gap, the president pointed out that significant disparities remain – with the average income of white households still nearly five times higher than that of black African households. READ MORE: Employment Equity Bill has 'shortcomings' Ramaphosa appeared to take a swipe at the Democratic Alliance (DA), which is challenging the Employment Equity Act in court. 'Quite often they are the ones who complain about employment equity, black economic empowerment and you often wonder, what is it? 'Is it greed that is driving them or is it jealousy because it should be prosper thy neighbor that should drive them. They should be applauding. 'Yes, people are also moving up the scale and they are often the very first to complain and even to take government to court.' Transformation Fund Ramaphosa called for the ownership, management, and control of key industries, such as construction, to reflect South Africa's demographics. 'We cannot separate our drive for inclusive growth for the drive for economic empowerment. 'And I stress this because the noises that continue to be made against empowerment and transformation are worrying.' Addressing criticism of the Transformation Fund, Ramaphosa reaffirmed the government's commitment to its implementation. 'We suddenly heard negative voices about the establishment of the Transformation Fund and we have said we are forging ahead with the establishment of this fund and we are going to allocate money.' READ MORE: What problem does government want to solve with R100bn Transformation Fund? He emphasised that access to finance remains a key barrier for black-owned businesses: 'We therefore as government must make sure that there is access to funding for black-owned businesses.' Ramaphosa also pushed back against the argument that BEE is a cost to the economy. 'There are those who say it is costing the economy much too much. And when you ask them in what way it is costing the economy, they are not able to explain. We need to demonstrate that it is an investment in the economy.'
