Tidjane Thiam, a former international banker and leader of Ivory Coast’s main opposition party, has told the BBC he is determined to challenge a court ruling that disqualifies him as a presidential candidate in his home country.
- Tidjane Thiam is determined to challenge court ruling disqualifying him from running for president in Ivory Coast
- Thiam claims the disqualification is politically motivated and an abuse of the legal system
- Ivory Coast’s Information Minister rejected Thiam’s claims, stating that at the time he was registered on the electoral list, he was not Ivorian
Tidjane Thiam, 62, former CEO of Credit Suisse and Chairman of Rwanda Finance Limited, was informed he is ineligible to contest the upcoming Ivorian presidential election, or even vote; just a week after the centre-right Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI) confirmed him as its candidate
According to Thiam, his disqualification comes from a 1961 law stating that acquiring foreign nationality results in loss of Ivorian citizenship. Despite renouncing his French nationality in March to comply with election requirements, the court ruled his candidacy invalid.
Referencing the 1961 nationality code, he said, “An Ivorian national of full age who voluntarily acquires or states that he possesses a foreign nationality shall lose Ivorian nationality.”
Ivorian govt confirms Thiam’s disqualification
In the BBC interview, he claimed the government’s decision to disqualify him is politically motivated and an abuse of the legal system, reiterating his right as a true-born Ivorian.
“The bottom line is, I was born an Ivorian,” he said, adding, “It’s not for the regime to choose who runs opposition parties; it’s not for the regime to eliminate opposition leaders.”
“I don’t think anybody in the Ivory Coast believes that this is not a weaponization of the legal system by the government.” He stated.
However, his claims were rejected by Ivory Coast’s Information Minister, Amadou Coulibaly, who told the BBC that “The court ruled that at the time he was registered on the electoral list, he was not Ivorian.”
“This is clear proof that this gentleman does not know Ivory Coast… We have a problem with morality regarding Mr. Thiam; he knew he was wrong,” he added.
Thiam will face a legal challenge to his candidacy, with courts expected to rule next Thursday.
All parliamentary activity has been suspended in protest at his disqualification. His supporters, however, remain hopeful that he could be readmitted as a candidate.
The final electoral list for October’s election is to be published on June 20.
