Excluded from the electoral roll ahead of Côte d’Ivoire’s 2025 presidential election, Tidjane Thiam took part in a protest this past weekend in Brussels, organized by his supporters living in Europe.
The demonstration, led by members of the Ivorian diaspora, aimed to denounce what they call “political maneuvers” designed to sideline the PDCI-RDA leader from the presidential race. Growing mobilization within the diaspora echoes similar rallies in Abidjan, where supporters are calling for Thiam’s reinstatement on the voter list.
Present at the march, Tidjane Thiam condemned “judicial pressure” and voiced concern over the political climate in his home country. He warned against a resurgence of past political crises that have shaken Côte d’Ivoire, and called for a governance model focused on human development.
“I’m talking about a life expectancy stuck at 59 years, and high school seniors whose education level matches that of a middle school student,” he said, addressing his supporters in Brussels.
While other political figures such as Laurent Gbagbo, Charles Blé Goudé, and Guillaume Soro have also been removed from the voter registry, their situations are different—each having been convicted by Ivorian courts. Thiam, on the other hand, has no criminal conviction and could potentially re-register during the next voter list revision.
The incident highlights growing concerns about the transparency and inclusiveness of the electoral process, just months ahead of a pivotal vote in the country’s political future.