In the heart of Abidjan, the capital of Ivory Coast, a significant crowd emerged on Saturday to demand the return of Tidjane Thiam to the presidential race electoral list. Thiam, a former CEO of Credit Suisse and the main opposition figure, was disqualified from participating in the upcoming October election. Despite the persistent rainfall, demonstrators congregated peacefully around the headquarters of the independent electoral commission, the institution entrusted with managing the electoral process.
On June 4, this commission disqualified Thiam along with three other notable opposition leaders from the final roster of presidential contenders. Earlier, a judicial ruling had disqualified Thiam, citing his dual-nationality status as a barrier. Even though Thiam was born in Ivory Coast, he acquired French nationality in 1987, which he renounced earlier this year in March. Vowing to challenge this decision, Thiam continues to rally his supporters.
Adorned in green and white, representing the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI), demonstrators showcased their solidarity with the opposition. They brandished placards and shouted slogans such as “Corrupt justice” and “Thithi president,” emphasizing their dissatisfaction with the electoral exclusion.
In a show of appreciation, Thiam, who was absent from the gathering, expressed his gratitude through a Facebook video. He affirmed that his struggle transcends personal ambition, standing as a testament to the commitment towards safeguarding democracy in Ivory Coast. Thiam promised to join his supporters in Abidjan soon to persist with this cause.
Meanwhile, senior officials from the PDCI were permitted entry into the electoral commission’s premises, where they submitted a formal request demanding the reinstatement of the disqualified candidates. “The unjust and arbitrary exclusion of President Thiam and other prominent opposition figures is something we vehemently condemn,” declared PDCI Executive Secretary Sylvestre Emmou during a press conference post their discussions with the commission’s representatives.
The political tension in Ivory Coast has been on the rise, fueled by the exclusionary decisions of the electoral commission and anticipation surrounding a ruling party congress scheduled for later this month. During this congress, President Alassane Ouattara is expected to announce his candidacy for the upcoming October 25 elections. Ouattara, who first assumed the presidency in 2011, is currently serving his third term and maintains that a constitutional referendum passed in 2016 exempts him from the two-term limit typically imposed on presidents.
His re-election in 2020 was marked by significant controversy, exacerbated by an opposition-led boycott. Concerns linger that the aftermath of this election may provoke further violence, reminiscent of the unrest over a decade ago that left more than 3,000 individuals dead following a disputed electoral outcome.