Ivory Coast Court Halts Opposition PDCI’s Elective Congress Amidst Allegations Of Irregularities.
By Caroline Ameh
Ivory Coast has stopped the country’s primary opposition party, the Democratic Party (PDCI), from its planned elective Congress as the court of first instance in the capital city of Abidjan ordered the suspension. The congress aimed to select a new party leader ahead of the 2025 presidential election, with former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam among the contenders.
This ruling came on Friday in response to urgent pleas from two high-ranking party members citing concerns about organizational irregularities and a lack of transparency in preparing for the congress.
Court documents highlighted their grievances, citing a lack of clarity regarding the shortlisted presidential candidates and the participating party members just a day before the scheduled event.
Although the complaints were not directly targeted at Thiam, the court, siding with the plaintiffs, decreed the postponement of the congress, significantly impacting the party’s future trajectory.
The leadership position within the PDCI holds substantial weight as the victor would likely become the party’s candidate in the forthcoming presidential race.
Tidjane Thiam, 61, who previously served as a minister in Ivory Coast under ex-president Henry Konan Bedie, has resurfaced in the political landscape of the country following his tenure at Credit Suisse. Despite perceptions within the party rank and file labeling him as an outsider without a robust grassroots base, Thiam’s candidacy signifies a formidable presence due to his resources and political stature.
In response to the court’s ruling, Thiam’s campaign team conveyed concerns about the situation at the scheduled congress venue in Abidjan, reporting a police cordon. They advised supporters to avoid the area and await further instructions from the party.
Thiam’s professional trajectory includes roles at consultancy firm McKinsey and insurance giants Aviva and Prudential before assuming the role of CEO at Credit Suisse in 2015.