Côte d’Ivoire opposition leader Tidjane Thiam has called for an “inclusive, transparent, and credible” presidential election, despite being barred from contesting due to a legal dispute over his nationality.
Speaking from Brussels, Thiam criticized the exclusion of presidential hopefuls, urging the West African nation to demonstrate political maturity by allowing fair competition. “The country must show it can ensure peaceful and democratic transitions, as seen in Senegal and Ghana,” he said.
Thiam, head of the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI), was removed from the electoral list by an Abidjan court last month, which ruled he forfeited his Ivorian citizenship in 1987 when he acquired French nationality. The court based its decision on a 1961 law, which Thiam dismissed as outdated and selectively enforced. He renounced his French citizenship earlier this year in an attempt to meet eligibility requirements.
The 62-year-old resigned and was swiftly re-elected as party leader earlier this week in a bid to reinforce his legitimacy, though the legal challenge to his candidacy remains unresolved.
Three other prominent opposition figures, including former President Laurent Gbagbo, have also been barred from the October 25 race due to past convictions.
While Ivorian authorities maintain that the judiciary alone oversees electoral matters, Thiam has accused them of using bureaucratic delays to obstruct his political participation. “We applied for a nationality certificate 10 days ago but haven’t received a response,” he said, adding that he remains uncertain about the legal status of his Ivorian identity.
Thiam, who attended a protest outside European Union institutions on Friday, said he currently has no plans to return to Côte d’Ivoire amid the unresolved issues surrounding his documentation.
President Alassane Ouattara, in power since 2011, has yet to officially declare his candidacy but has signaled willingness to seek another term.