Ivory Coast’s main opposition figure, Tidjane Thiam, has announced his decision to step down as leader of the Democratic Party (PDCI) but emphasized that he will continue to spearhead efforts to win the country’s upcoming presidential election in October 2025.
Thiam’s resignation comes after a court in Abidjan removed his name from the electoral roll, citing that he had forfeited his Ivorian nationality upon acquiring French citizenship in 1987.
Despite renouncing his French citizenship in March, Thiam’s leadership of the PDCI has come under legal scrutiny, with a party member challenging both his nationality status and the legitimacy of his election as party president.
Thiam remains determined to lead his party to victory, stating that his departure from the party’s top position does not signal an end to his presidential ambitions.
