Tidjane Thiam Confirmed as PDCI President by Ivorian Court
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Ivorian court backs Tidjane Thiam’s leadership amid nationality dispute, but election eligibility still in question.
An Ivorian court has officially upheld Tidjane Thiam’s leadership of the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI), putting to rest internal party disputes about his eligibility and reaffirming his authority within the country’s main opposition group. The ruling, delivered on May 22, 2025, comes amid heightened political tensions ahead of the upcoming presidential election.
The court dismissed a legal challenge brought by Valérie Yapo, a senior member of the PDCI political bureau. Yapo claimed that Thiam should be deemed ineligible to serve as party president on the grounds that he had lost his Ivorian nationality after acquiring French citizenship in 1987. According to her argument, this status violates the PDCI’s internal statutes, which require the party president to be an Ivorian national.
However, the court ruled the complaint inadmissible, effectively allowing Thiam to retain his position as head of the party. The decision was welcomed by many of Thiam’s supporters, who viewed the challenge as an attempt to destabilize the party and undermine its unity ahead of a crucial election year.
Tidjane Thiam, a prominent international banker and former CEO of Credit Suisse, returned to Ivorian politics in 2023 and quickly rose through the ranks of the PDCI. His election as party leader marked a significant moment for the party, which has struggled to regain its political footing since losing power in 1999.
Despite his popularity, Thiam’s dual nationality has become a source of controversy. In April 2025, Ivorian electoral authorities removed him from the national voter registry, citing the fact that he holds French citizenship. This decision cast doubt on his eligibility to run in the October 2025 presidential elections, prompting a wave of criticism from his allies.
In protest, Thiam temporarily resigned from the presidency of the PDCI on May 12, citing “judicial harassment” and claiming he was being unfairly targeted to prevent his candidacy. The resignation sent shockwaves through the party and the national political landscape. But just two days later, during an extraordinary party congress, Thiam was overwhelmingly re-elected by PDCI delegates with over 99% of the vote — a clear show of confidence in his leadership.
The court’s ruling on May 22 confirms the legitimacy of that re-election and quells internal dissent for now. Still, significant challenges remain. While Thiam continues to lead the PDCI, his political future depends on whether he can overturn the decision that removed him from the voter list. Without reinstatement, he would be legally barred from running for president.
The party is currently pursuing legal avenues to challenge the electoral authority’s decision, arguing that Thiam never formally renounced his Ivorian citizenship. Legal experts are divided on the matter, pointing out that Côte d’Ivoire’s laws on dual nationality are complex and open to interpretation.
Political analysts say the court’s dismissal of the internal complaint may strengthen Thiam’s standing within the party, but it does little to resolve the broader legal and constitutional questions surrounding his candidacy.
“The court’s decision is a major win for Thiam internally, but he’s not out of the woods yet,” said political commentator Koffi Kouadio. “The key issue now is whether he will be allowed to run in the presidential election. That’s the real test.”
As the PDCI prepares for the October vote, Thiam’s leadership will likely be central to its campaign strategy. Supporters argue that his international experience and reformist vision make him uniquely qualified to lead Côte d’Ivoire into a new era of economic growth and political stability.
For now, Thiam remains at the head of the PDCI — a party seeking both internal consolidation and national relevance — while the battle for his place in the presidential race continues in the courts.
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