Tidjane Thiam has announced his resignation as president of the PDCI-RDA, citing ongoing judicial and political attacks aimed at sidelining him from the democratic process.
Despite this, he reaffirmed his dedication to leading his party to victory in the October 2025 presidential election.
In a message to party members released late on May 11-12, 2025, Thiam announced his decision, following months of political and legal tensions, notably his removal from the Ivorian electoral list in April 2025.
Thiam denounced what he described as “orchestrated judicial harassment” against himself and the PDCI-RDA, aimed at marginalizing him. “Since my election as president, I have had the honor of modernizing and revitalizing our party, generating real enthusiasm,” he stated, highlighting the party’s doubled membership in a year.
However, he expressed frustration over persistent attacks, with the courts being used as a tool to “exclude us from public and political life, deprive us of our fundamental rights, and undermine my dignity.” He pointed to his removal from the electoral roll as a pivotal moment.
The Abidjan Court of First Instance upheld his removal, citing the loss of his Ivorian nationality due to acquiring French nationality in 1987, despite him renouncing it in March 2025. “They want to exclude me because I am the bearer of hope for a different Côte d’Ivoire,” Thiam added.
He also criticized the authorities’ refusal to issue him a nationality certificate, despite his compliance with legal procedures, calling it “contempt for our country’s texts and traditions.”
Thiam further alleged an attempt to “put the PDCI-RDA under control,” stating, “There seems to be a clear desire to supervise our party, just as hope for a return to power after 25 years is shared by many Ivorians.”
Despite his resignation, Thiam insisted he remains committed to leading the PDCI-RDA to victory in 2025. “I remain committed to freeing our country from fear and injustice,” he promised, urging unity and perseverance among party members.
This resignation, just five months before the presidential election, places the PDCI-RDA, a major opposition party, in a precarious position as it seeks new leadership at a critical time for Côte d’Ivoire’s political future.
