Fact Check: A court ruled earlier in 2023 that Tidjane Thiam was not eligible to run for president due to his dual Ivorian-French nationality.

Fact Check: "A court ruled earlier in 2023 that Tidjane Thiam was not eligible to run for president due to his dual Ivorian-French nationality."

What We Know

In April 2023, a court in Ivory Coast ruled that Tidjane Thiam, the former CEO of Credit Suisse, was ineligible to run for president due to his dual nationality. The court's decision was based on the assertion that Thiam had lost his Ivorian nationality when he acquired French nationality in 1987, as stated by his lawyer, Me Ange Rodrigue Dadjé (AP News). Under Ivorian law, specifically Article 48 of the Nationality Code, presidential candidates must possess exclusively Ivorian nationality (Business Insider).

Thiam had recently won his party's primary and was considered a significant contender against the incumbent president, Alassane Ouattara. Following the ruling, Thiam expressed his intention to contest the decision, labeling it as "unjust" and politically motivated (AP News).

Analysis

The ruling against Thiam has been met with widespread criticism, particularly from opposition figures who argue that it reflects a politically motivated effort to suppress dissent and eliminate serious challengers to the ruling party (Bloomberg). The court's decision was based on the interpretation of Ivorian nationality laws, which strictly prohibit dual citizenship for presidential candidates.

Thiam's legal team confirmed the basis of the ruling, stating that he was registered as a French citizen at the time of his application, which rendered him ineligible under the law (Business Insider). Despite his attempts to renounce his French citizenship earlier in 2023 to comply with Ivorian electoral laws, the court maintained that he was not an Ivorian citizen when he registered (Radar Africa).

The credibility of the sources reporting on this issue is generally high, with major news organizations like the Associated Press and Reuters providing detailed accounts of the court's ruling and the surrounding political context. However, the political implications of the ruling have led to accusations of bias, particularly from Thiam and his supporters, who view the judiciary as being manipulated by the ruling party to maintain power (Bloomberg).

Conclusion

The claim that a court ruled Tidjane Thiam was not eligible to run for president due to his dual Ivorian-French nationality is True. The court's ruling was based on the interpretation of Ivorian nationality laws, which prohibit dual citizenship for presidential candidates. Despite Thiam's attempts to renounce his French citizenship, the court determined that he was not an Ivorian citizen at the time of his registration, thus disqualifying him from the presidential race.

Sources

1. A court in Ivory Coast removes a former Credit Suisse CEO from the ...
2. Ivory Coast court blocks top presidential candidate over French links
3. Court Bars Thiam From Côte D'ivoire Presidential Race Amid Nationality ...
4. Ivorian Court Rules Against Thiam as Party Leadership ...
5. Thousands protest in Ivory Coast after opposition leader ...
6. Ivorian court blocks Thiam's candidacy over dual citizenship