Ivorian opposition leader and PDCI candidate Tidjane Thiam has condemned the Constitutional Council’s decision to declare him ineligible for the October 2025 presidential election, calling it an assault on democracy and a violation of the law.
Thiam, a former Crédit Suisse CEO, accused President Alassane Ouattara’s government of repressing the opposition and manipulating the electoral process to secure a fourth term.
He insisted that Ivorians deserve free, fair, and inclusive elections, pledging to continue the fight for justice despite being struck off the electoral roll.
The Constitutional Council announced on September 8 that Thiam and former President Laurent Gbagbo were barred from contesting the polls due to their exclusion from the electoral register, a mandatory condition for eligibility.
Five candidates were cleared to run, including outgoing President Ouattara, Jean-Louis Billon, Simone Ehivet Gbagbo, Ahoua Don-Mello Jacob, and Henriette Lagou.
The ruling has sparked renewed tensions in Ivory Coast’s political landscape as the country prepares for a decisive election.
