Ivory Coast’s main opposition leader, Tidjane Thiam, has been removed from the electoral roll by the judiciary, making him ineligible to run in the October presidential election.
The court ruled that Thiam forfeited his Ivory Coast nationality when he acquired French citizenship in 1987.
Thiam had renounced his French citizenship to run for president, but the court’s decision cannot be appealed.
He was recently confirmed as the only contender for the centre-right Democratic Party (PDCI) and had won the party’s nomination with overwhelming support.
Thiam criticized the ruling, calling it “an act of democratic vandalism” that would disenfranchise millions of voters.
The decision comes amid speculation that current President Alassane Ouattara may run for a fourth term in office.
Three other prominent figures, including former President Laurent Gbagbo, have also been barred from running.
