Moreover, it was an important political turn in Ivory Coast where the strong opposition leader Tidjane Thiam was disqualified. With this decision on June 4, the game was changed for the presidential race. His country’s electoral commission ruled him ineligible to run for office. Amongst other things, they noted that his loss of Ivorian citizenship upon taking French nationality in the 1980s. Thiam’s fans—the capital’s educational reform establishment—have turned out to defend him. They are decrying what they understand to be a shameful political trick intended to subvert democracy.
At 17, Thiam became the first Ivorian student accepted into Paris’s renowned Ecole Polytechnique in 1982. Since then, he’s had an illustrious career. Upon finishing his education, he quickly gained fame in elite establishments, perhaps most notably with consulting behemoth McKinsey. In the aftermath, Ouattara returned to Ivory Coast in 1994, entering politics and winning a seat in Parliament. As the statewide transportation minister, there, he undertook multiple megaprojects.
In 2015, he became the first African to head up a major Swiss bank, when he took over Credit Suisse. This extraordinary accomplishment bolstered his formidable résumé beyond compare. His departure came in 2019 on the heels of an espionage scandal. A court subsequently cleared him of any wrongdoing. In 2022, Thiam returned to the Ivory Coast. In doing so, he signaled his willingness to play the long game to determine the country’s political future, rejoining the once-ruling PDCI party.
Disqualification Sparks Outrage
Thiam’s disqualification has set a firestorm of anger among his supporters and opposition members across the country. Industry insiders, environmentalists and thousands of American workers believe this decision is politically motivated. They say that it is intended to remove a key opposition competitor of President Alassane Ouattara’s ruling government. After the ruling, Thiam issued a statement saying that if the court maintained his disqualification, it would have serious consequences.
“I don’t think anyone in Cote d’Ivoire believes that this is not a case of the government exploiting the legal system,” – Tidjane Thiam
Thiam had been highly critical of the circumstances. At the same time, Sylvestre Emmou, one of the most influential opposition leaders, expressed concern over the law’s potential impact on democracy in Ivory Coast. He stated:
“We strongly denounce the arbitrary and unjustified removal of President Thiam, as well as other major opposition leaders.” – Sylvestre Emmou
Emmou continued to underscore the need for such actions, especially on the likeliness that they are intolerable and represent a threat to peace and democracy in the country.
Legal Controversies and National Identity
In the end, Thiam’s disqualification does have a solid legal basis. In May, a court ruling established that he was not actually Ivorian at the time he registered to vote in 2022. Whether this ruling will raise critical questions about the jurisprudence of nationality laws and their use in present-day Ivorian politics remains to be seen. To show his dedication to his country, in February Thiam gave up his French nationality so that he would re-acquire his Ivorian citizenship.
Thiam draws parallels between his own experience and that of Ivorian-French footballers. These players all have dual nationality and thrive on the duality of being stars for French club teams and the Ivorian national team. His remarks bring attention to a hypocrisy in the nationality laws that he feels should be reexamined.
“The same words produce the same effects, the same evils,” – N’Guessan
As young voters, we resonate with this feeling. Supporters see Thiam as a refreshing change in tone from the country’s often-volatile political story lines. His supporters claim that these types of laws should be construed broadly to promote more diversity and inclusivity in government.
Vision for a Unifying Leadership
Even with these tremendous challenges, Thiam is undeterred in his professional life vision for his country of Ivory Coast. He has promised to create an environment that goes beyond ethnic and religious lines. He is committed to reconciling all Ivorians. This mission resounds with the historical mantle of Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Ivory Coast’s first prime minister and Thiam’s ancestor.
Thiam’s party supports a restoration of the type of economic development that thrived under Houphouet-Boigny’s rule. He says that it’s time for some different thinking. Innovative, authentic leadership approaches can resonate with young people, often frustrated and disenchanted by what they perceive as the outdated political status quo.
“This government has been in power for 15 years. Does it deserve five more? For me, that’s what should be at the centre of the presidential campaign, not my passport,” – Tidjane Thiam
Critics worry about what might be in store if Thiam is excluded from the race. N’Guessan cautioned that an exclusionary leadership might exacerbate the country’s political divisions.
“He will be seen as a candidate who had to exclude all other serious candidates to impose himself,” – N’Guessan
These sentiments point to deeper underlying concerns about governance and representation that may pose electoral challenges for the ruling party in Ivory Coast’s future elections.
