Latest news with #IvorianNationalityCode
Arabian Post
13-05-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Thiam Steps Down Amid Mounting Legal and Political Pressure
Tidjane Thiam has resigned as leader of Côte d'Ivoire's Democratic Party , marking a significant shift in the country's political landscape ahead of the October 2025 presidential election. His departure follows a series of legal challenges and internal party disputes that have cast uncertainty over his political future. Thiam, a former CEO of Credit Suisse and a prominent figure in international finance, assumed leadership of the PDCI-RDA in December 2023 with overwhelming support, securing 96.5% of the vote. His candidacy was seen as a rejuvenation of the party, aiming to challenge the long-standing dominance of President Alassane Ouattara's ruling party. However, Thiam's presidential ambitions encountered a significant obstacle when an Ivorian court ruled him ineligible to run for office. The court cited his French citizenship at the time of his registration on the electoral roll, despite his renunciation of French nationality in February 2025. The ruling, based on Article 48 of the Ivorian Nationality Code, is final and not subject to appeal. Thiam criticized the decision as a politically motivated attempt to sideline a viable opposition candidate. The court's decision has been met with criticism from various quarters, including a group of prominent academics who warned that disqualifying Thiam undermines democratic integrity and risks triggering instability in the country. They highlighted the irony of the situation, drawing parallels to President Ouattara's own past challenges with electoral eligibility. Internally, the PDCI-RDA has been grappling with divisions over Thiam's leadership. Some party members initiated legal proceedings to remove him from the party's presidency, arguing that his previous dual nationality and insufficient tenure within the party's political bureau violated internal regulations. These internal disputes have further complicated the party's efforts to present a united front in the upcoming election. See also Meta Faces Regulatory Showdown in Nigeria Thiam's resignation leaves the PDCI-RDA at a crossroads, as it seeks to identify a new leader capable of galvanizing support and mounting a credible challenge to the ruling party. The party's ability to navigate this transition and maintain cohesion will be critical in the lead-up to the October election. The broader political context in Côte d'Ivoire remains tense, with concerns about democratic backsliding and the potential for electoral unrest. Thiam's exit from the political stage underscores the challenges facing opposition parties in a political environment where legal and institutional mechanisms can be leveraged to limit competition.
Business Insider
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
Ivory Coast court blocks top presidential candidate over French links
The ruling by a court in Ivory Coast, announced on Tuesday, is based on the finding that Thiam, former CEO of Credit Suisse, was registered as a French citizen at the time of his application, rendering him ineligible under Ivorian law. Thiam's legal team, speaking to Reuters, confirmed the basis of the ruling: ' Given his French nationality and in accordance with Article 48 of the Ivorian Nationality Code, he was no longer Ivorian at the time he registered on the electoral roll.' The decision deals a serious blow to Thiam's political aspirations and has reignited debates around dual nationality and electoral eligibility in Ivory Coast. In a statement following the ruling, Thiam called on political leaders across the spectrum to engage in dialogue to resolve the political impasse. ' Ivorians expect the judicial system to guarantee peaceful, transparent and credible elections—not to serve as an instrument for a regime seeking to hoard power and silence its critics, ' he said. He further criticized the ruling party, accusing it of manipulating the courts to sideline opposition voices: ' The ruling party has used the courts to eliminate its most serious rival, while maintaining the illusion of due process. Make no mistake about it—this decision is an act of democratic vandalism that will disenfranchise millions of voters.' Thiam's citizenship change As expected of individuals with dual citizenship, Tidjane Thiam took steps earlier this year to renounce his French nationality in a bid to comply with Ivorian electoral laws. In February, the former Credit Suisse CEO announced in a Facebook video that he had formally submitted a request to relinquish his French passport, a move intended to secure his status as solely Ivorian ahead of the presidential election. 'I hereby renew my commitment to working for real change in Ivory Coast, so that the living conditions of Ivorians improve. That's what we're fighting for, ' Thiam said in the video. Under Ivorian law, presidential candidates must hold only Ivorian citizenship and cannot be nationals of any other country. Following Thiam's application, a decree published in France's official journal in March confirmed that he had ' been released from his allegiance to France,' seemingly clearing the path for his candidacy. The move was widely seen as a strategic effort to meet constitutional requirements and position himself as a serious contender in the race to lead the world's top cocoa-producing nation. Other frontline candidates President Alassane Ouattara, 83, who was re-elected for a third term in 2020 has hinted he may seek a fourth term if backed by his party, noting he's in good health and willing to serve. Multiple strong candidates, in addition to President Alassane Ouattara, are expected to contest the presidency of this West African economic powerhouse, home to 32 million people and include: - Former Prime Minister Pascal Affi N'Guessan is running under the Front populaire ivoirien (FPI), having previously contested in 2015 and 2020. - Simone Gbagbo, former First Lady and head of the Mouvement des générations capables (MGC), has declared her candidacy. - Laurent Gbagbo, former president (2000–2011), also intends to run with the PPA-CI but is barred due to a past conviction, despite a 2022 pardon. - Guillaume Soro, in exile since 2019, plans to run though he was convicted in absentia for crimes including undermining state security. Ivory Coast's 2025 election is shaping up to be a pivotal moment for the nation, with a mix of established leaders and new challengers vying for the presidency.
Straits Times
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Ivory Coast court strikes Thiam's name off electoral roll over French nationality
Tidjane Thiam, president of the PDCI (Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire), speaks during a meeting as the country prepares for the presidential election in Yopougon, Abidjan, Ivory Coast, February 15, 2025. REUTERS/Luc Gnago/File Photo ABIDJAN - A court in Ivory Coast ruled on Tuesday that opposition leader and former Credit Suisse chief executive Tidjane Thiam should be removed from the electoral roll because he was a French national when he registered, his lawyer said. The decision, which cannot be appealed, could end the Ivorian-born Thiam's ambition to run in the world's top cocoa-producing nation's presidential election, expected in October. "Given his French nationality and in accordance with Article 48 of the Ivorian Nationality Code, he was no longer Ivorian at the time he registered on the electoral roll," Thiam's lawyer told Reuters. In 2023, Thiam was elected leader of PDCI, one of the country's main opposition parties, making him a likely candidate for the presidential election. He renounced his French citizenship in February in order to meet eligibility conditions for the election and announced that he would be a candidate. Ivory Coast law states that candidates must be Ivorian citizens and cannot hold another nationality. Last month, a decision published in France's official journal showed that Thiam had been relieved of his French citizenship. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
