Côte d’Ivoire’s leading opposition figure, Tidjane Thiam, declared on Friday that he has renounced his French citizenship in order to participate in the upcoming presidential election later this year.
Thiam, who leads the Democratic Party (PDCI), described the decision as “an important step” that had been carefully considered, “which involved submitting my request to renounce French nationality,” he explained. This will ensure that he is “exclusively of Ivorian nationality at the time of the election” in October, he continued, referring to it as “an administrative formality.”
According to Article 55 of the Ivorian Constitution, a presidential candidate must be “exclusively of Ivorian nationality, born of a father or mother of Ivorian origin.”
Thiam, a 62-year-old former engineer, minister, and bank executive, spent nearly 20 years living abroad before returning to Côte d’Ivoire in 2022.
He assumed leadership of the PDCI in December 2023 but still needs to be officially nominated as the party’s candidate. Jean-Louis Billon, a former commerce minister, has also declared his candidacy for the party’s nomination. Several other contenders are also seeking to participate in the election scheduled for October 25.
Laurent Gbagbo, president from 2000 to 2011, has been selected to represent the Côte d’Ivoire African People’s Party (PPA-CI), but he is ineligible to run due to a criminal record.
His former wife, Simone Ehivet Gbagbo, has put forth her candidacy, while Pascal Affi N’Guessan, prime minister from 2000 to 2003, is contesting for the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI).
President Alassane Ouattara, who has been in office since 2011, has yet to declare whether he will seek a fourth term even though he said last month that he was “eager to continue serving” his country.
