Former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam has renounced his French citizenship to meet the eligibility requirements for Ivory Coast’s presidential election in October 2025.
Thiam, who was elected leader of the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI) in 2023, is a strong contender for the party’s nomination, though former trade minister Jean-Louis Billon has also declared his candidacy.
In a video posted on Facebook, Thiam confirmed that he had submitted a request to relinquish his French passport, allowing him to hold only Ivorian nationality at the time of the election.
He reiterated his commitment to improving the living conditions of Ivorians and bringing “real change” to the country.
Thiam, 62, previously served as a minister under former President Henri Konan Bédié but left Ivory Coast following a 1999 military coup.
He later held executive roles at McKinsey, Aviva, Prudential, and Credit Suisse before returning to Ivory Coast to lead the PDCI.
The upcoming election is expected to be contentious, with President Alassane Ouattara, 83, signaling his intent to seek a fourth term— a move likely to face resistance from opposition parties, which had previously contested his third-term bid in 2020.
