Ivorian politician and embattled presidential hopeful, Tidjane Thiam, has stepped down as President of the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire – African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA), amid an ongoing legal challenge regarding his Ivorian nationality.
His resignation was announced in an official statement dated 11 May 2025 by Ernest N’Koumo Mobio, the party’s eldest vice-president, who has assumed the role of interim president in accordance with PDCI statutes.
Thiam’s withdrawal from the party leadership comes just five months ahead of the presidential election, leaving one of Côte d’Ivoire’s main opposition parties in urgent need of new leadership.
N’Koumo Mobio called for unity and discipline, urging party members to remain cohesive during what he described as a turbulent time for the PDCI.
The political upheaval follows an April 22 ruling by the Abidjan Court of First Instance, which confirmed Thiam’s removal from the electoral roll. The court held that he had lost his Ivorian nationality, a critical requirement for eligibility in the upcoming October 2025 presidential election.
Thiam, in a video message explained the reason for his resignation as president of the PDCI, claiming to be the victim of “insidious judicial harassment”. He now faces legal challenges despite his assertion that he has complied with all legal procedures after renouncing his French citizenship on 19 March 2025.
