Côte d'Ivoire opposition figure reclaims party leadership ahead of court ruling

Cote d'Ivoire: Côte d'Ivoire Opposition Figure Reclaims Party Leadership Ahead of Court Ruling

Tidjane Thiam was re-elected as head of Côte d'Ivoire's main opposition party on Wednesday, just days after resigning from the role - and despite being barred from running in the country's presidential election.

Côte d'Ivoire opposition figure reclaims party leadership ahead of court ruling

Tidjane Thiam was re-elected as head of Côte d’Ivoire’s main opposition party on Wednesday, just days after resigning from the role – and despite being barred from running in the country’s presidential election.

The PDCI leader had resigned two days earlier in order to put an end to a judicial saga challenging his legitimacy. However, he remains ineligible in the presidential election on 25 October.

Tidjane Thiam plans return as Ivory Coast's opposition PDCI party leader

A vote to name the party's new leader was held days after he resigned from the post in a move aimed at bypassing his ineligibility.

The former Chief Executive Secretary left his post as political adviser to Tidjane Thiam, in the aftermath of a congress that devoted the latter's re-election but was criticized internally. The symptom of a deep malaise in the first opposition party.

The former banker Tidjane Thiam, who was ineligible in the presidential election of 25 October 2025 by a court decision in April, is at the heart of a politico-judicial series. His case and that of three other opposition figures who were also excluded are of greater concern to the West African press than the declared candidates.