Thousands March in Abidjan to Demand Thiam’s Return to Presidential Race

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By: TPA News Desk | editor@thepointafricanews.com

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Despite heavy rain, several thousand protesters took to the streets of Abidjan on Saturday, marching in front of the Independent Electoral Commission as part of a peaceful demonstration calling for the reinstatement of opposition leader Tidjane Thiam to the presidential ballot. Thiam, a former CEO of Credit Suisse and president of the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI), was barred from running in the October election due to issues surrounding his former dual nationality.

Although Thiam voluntarily renounced his French citizenship in February, a court ruled he was ineligible to run because he still held dual nationality when he submitted his candidacy. During the protest, demonstrators dressed in PDCI’s green and white colors chanted slogans including “Corrupt justice” and “Thithi president,” accusing the judiciary of manipulating the rules.

Thiam addressed supporters via Facebook, thanking the crowd and reaffirming his commitment to the cause of democracy in Ivory Coast. Senior PDCI officials also submitted a letter to the electoral commission, denouncing what they described as an “unjust and arbitrary removal” of Thiam and other opposition figures.

The controversy surrounding Thiam’s candidacy comes amid rising political tension ahead of the October election. Incumbent President Alassane Ouattara, in power since 2011, has yet to announce his intentions for a fourth term. His ability to seek re-election stems from a 2020 constitutional referendum that the opposition boycotted and which extended presidential term limits.

This protest highlights growing fears that the exclusion of key candidates could undermine electoral fairness and risk reigniting instability, recalling the violence that followed Ivory Coast’s disputed 2010 election. For now, Thiam remains sidelined, and the country braces for a potentially contentious electoral season.