Tidjane Thiam has resigned from his position as president of the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI-RDA), according to an announcement made on May 11, 2025, by the party’s interim leader, Ernest N’Koumo Mobio.
The move comes after a ruling on April 22 by the Abidjan Court of First Instance, which ordered Thiam’s removal from the electoral roll on the grounds that he had lost his Ivorian nationality. The judgment was based on Article 48 of the 1961 Nationality Code, which stipulates automatic loss of nationality for any Ivorian adult who voluntarily acquires foreign citizenship. Thiam, who was naturalized as a French citizen in 1987, claims to have renounced that nationality in March 2025 and is challenging the decision, which he calls unjust.
In a video posted shortly after the verdict, Thiam denounced the ruling as a political maneuver aimed at blocking his presidential bid. He accused the government of having “eliminated its main opponent” through a legal argument he described as “unfair and incomprehensible,” while reaffirming his determination to remain in the race.
Despite being struck from the voter list, Thiam had continued his campaign, citing the need to offer Ivorians a free and fair electoral choice. He also leaned on polling data from an international research group, which placed him well ahead of his main rivals, including former president Laurent Gbagbo and incumbent Alassane Ouattara.
However, amid growing legal uncertainty and internal tensions, Thiam has opted to withdraw from the party leadership. As per the party’s statutes, Ernest N’Koumo Mobio will now serve as acting president. He has called for unity and discipline to maintain the party’s stability.
With just five months remaining before the presidential election, Thiam’s resignation leaves a leadership vacuum at the helm of one of the country’s main opposition parties, further unsettling the political landscape ahead of a pivotal vote.