The political landscape in Côte d’Ivoire has entered a period of heightened uncertainty following a ruling by the Constitutional Council that significantly reduced the number of presidential candidates eligible to contest the upcoming election.
On September 8, the Council announced that only five candidates would be permitted to run, disqualifying prominent figures such as former President Laurent Gbagbo and former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam. The decision has left their respective parties—the African Peoples’ Party–Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI) and the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire–African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA)—grappling with strategic dilemmas.
Gbagbo, barred due to a prior conviction, has long criticized the fairness of the electoral process. His exclusion has sparked internal debate within the PPA-CI over whether to support another candidate or boycott the election entirely.
Thiam, disqualified on grounds related to citizenship, has reportedly declined to endorse a substitute candidate, leaving the PDCI-RDA without a clear path forward. The party now faces mounting pressure to redefine its role in the electoral contest.
Amid the fragmentation, Charles Blé Goudé, leader of the Congress for Justice and Equality of Peoples (COJEP), has emerged as a potential unifier. In a recent public statement, Blé Goudé urged opposition parties to avoid a boycott, warning that such a move would effectively hand victory to the ruling party and fail to address systemic issues.
COJEP is expected to hold a convention in early October to select a candidate to support.
The coming weeks will be pivotal in determining whether opposition forces can coalesce around a shared strategy or remain divided heading into the election. Analysts say the outcome will serve as a critical test of the country’s democratic institutions and political resilience.
