Tidjane Thiam’s long-anticipated return to Ivorian politics hit a legal and political wall last month, as a court ruled that his decades-old French citizenship disqualifies him from contesting the October presidential election an outcome that may clear the path for President Alassane Ouattara or his allies to dominate the race unopposed, deepening concerns over shrinking democratic space and political exclusion in Ivory Coast.
On April 22, a judge ruled that Thiam, 62, had forfeited his Ivorian citizenship years ago when he acquired French nationality and failed to revoke it in time to qualify for the 2025 presidential election. The ruling comes just weeks after Thiam was officially nominated as the flag bearer of the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI), the country’s oldest political movement, positioning him as a serious contender to succeed President Alassane Ouattara.
Thiam’s rise was widely seen as a promising turn in Ivorian politics. A scion of a respected noble family and great-nephew of founding President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, he served as a reformist minister in the 1990s before fleeing after a military coup. He went on to build an illustrious global career, heading Prudential Plc and later Credit Suisse. His return in 2022 reignited hopes for a new era of leadership.
But this hope now hangs in the balance. The court’s decision final and not subject to appeal under Ivorian law has thrown Thiam’s candidacy into legal limbo. His supporters argue the ruling is politically motivated, designed to clear the field for Ouattara or a handpicked successor to run unchallenged.
The court’s verdict has sparked outrage among sections of the electorate and deepened suspicions about Ivory Coast’s democratic trajectory. This is not the first time high-profile opposition figures have been sidelined. Former President Laurent Gbagbo, former Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, and ex-minister Charles Blé Goudé have all been barred from running due to prior convictions leaving the political field increasingly bare of credible alternatives to the ruling Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP).
“This decision could damage public confidence in the electoral process and fuel perceptions of exclusion,” said political analyst Koffi Konan. “When citizens see viable leaders blocked on legal technicalities, it sends a dangerous message.”
The stakes are high in a region already grappling with rising authoritarianism. In Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, military juntas have overthrown civilian governments, riding a wave of populist resentment. With over 70% of its population under the age of 35, Ivory Coast is particularly vulnerable to this anti-establishment sentiment.
Despite four years of robust economic growth under Ouattara, many young Ivorians feel left behind. Thiam’s centrist, technocratic platform had appealed to those seeking change without chaos—a promise now deferred, perhaps indefinitely.
With no heavyweight challengers remaining, the October election risks becoming a formality rather than a democratic contest. The real question now is whether the ruling will galvanize popular protest or pass quietly—leaving Ivory Coast at a crossroads between reform and regression.
