Côte d'Ivoire's opposition leader, Tidjane Thiam, resigned as head of the Democratic Party but will continue his bid for the presidency, despite being disqualified due to dual citizenship issues. Other opposition leaders, including Laurent Gbagbo, were also excluded from the race. Thiam criticized the exclusions as attempts to manipulate the election. The government denies political interference, citing an independent judiciary.

Côte d'Ivoire's leading opposition figure, who was barred from running in the upcoming presidential election this October, announced on Monday that he was resigning from his position as party leader but would continue to spearhead the effort to win the presidency. With just six months left before the election, political tensions are rising in the West African country, as several opposition figures have been declared ineligible to contest.

For several months, Tidjane Thiam’s presidential campaign has been overshadowed by disputes regarding his nationality. Last month, a court in Abidjan removed him from the electoral list, citing that Thiam, 62, had lost his Ivorian nationality when he acquired French citizenship in 1987. Additionally, Thiam, who has been out of Côte d'Ivoire for over a month, faces a legal challenge regarding his election as the head of the Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire (PDCI). This case was initiated by a party member who also questions Thiam’s Ivorian nationality at the time of his election as party leader.

Dual Citizenship Controversy In a speech shared on social media, Thiam announced, "In the interest of the party, I have decided to place my mandate as president of the party in your hands, the activists." However, despite stepping down from his leadership role, Thiam, who remains the deputy president of the party, emphasized that his resignation did not signal his withdrawal from the presidential race. "This decision does not change the commitment I made in December 2023 to personally lead our party to victory in October 2025," Thiam asserted. "I know that after electing me in 2023, you will give me your trust again," he added.

Presidential candidates in Côte d'Ivoire are prohibited from holding dual citizenship. Thiam, who was born in Côte d'Ivoire, renounced his French passport in March to comply with the requirement and continue his pursuit of the presidency. The court's ruling to disqualify him from the electoral list was based on Article 48 of the nationality code, which dates back to the 1960s and states that acquiring another nationality results in the loss of Ivorian citizenship.

New Party Leadership Following Thiam’s announcement, PDCI deputy president Ernest N'Koumo Mobio will take over as the interim leader of the party. The 92-year-old Mobio called for "cohesion, serenity, and discipline" within the party and convened an emergency meeting on Monday to address the urgency of the political situation. A senior member of the PDCI revealed that the purpose of the meeting was to "reaffirm the party's total support for" Thiam. Around 100 supporters gathered at the party's headquarters early Monday, where riot police were stationed. The supporters, holding placards with slogans such as "Don't touch my right to vote," demonstrated their support for Thiam.

Along with Thiam, three other opposition figures have been excluded from the presidential race, including former president Laurent Gbagbo, who was disqualified due to prior court convictions. Thiam criticized the exclusions, stating, "While we had the right to hope for inclusive, transparent, and peaceful elections, it is clear that the unjustified removal of the PDCI candidate is part of the logic of eliminating the leaders of the main opposition parties to ensure tailor-made elections and a certain victory."

Authorities have repeatedly denied claims of political interference in the electoral process, maintaining that decisions are made by an independent judiciary. President Alassane Ouattara, who has been in power since 2011, has not yet disclosed whether he plans to seek re-election but has expressed his desire to "continue serving my country."