Tensions are escalating within Côte d’Ivoire’s main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire – African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA), as internal divisions threaten to derail its prospects in the upcoming presidential election scheduled for October 25, 2025.
A dissident faction within the party, known as the IRS PDCI-RDA Group, has publicly accused the party leadership of mismanagement and authoritarianism, citing the failure to secure a valid presidential candidate as evidence of systemic dysfunction. The group claims that poor governance has led to the party’s fourth consecutive absence from a presidential race since 2000.
Candidate Disqualified
The controversy centers on Tidjane Thiam, the party’s president and former CEO of Credit Suisse, who was initially nominated as the PDCI-RDA’s presidential candidate. However, on September 8, the Constitutional Council excluded Thiam from the final electoral list, citing issues related to his citizenship status and his absence from the national voter roll.
Court documents reveal that the party’s legal team had requested a postponement of the election—an action the IRS group argues implicitly acknowledged Thiam’s ineligibility and inadvertently strengthened the case for his disqualification.
Internal Revolt
In a press conference held on September 17 in Abidjan, the IRS PDCI-RDA Group—comprising factions such as the National Coalition for Peace and the Collective of Militants for the Respect of Regulations—issued a strongly worded statement condemning the leadership’s handling of the situation.
“The lies permanently served to militants regarding the eligibility of President Thiam reached their climax,” the group declared, accusing party officials of misleading members and failing to anticipate legal hurdles.
The dissidents further allege that their internal warnings were met with punitive measures, in violation of the party’s founding principles of dialogue and transparency, as championed by historical figures Félix Houphouët-Boigny and Henri Konan Bédié.
Calls for Reform
To address the crisis, the IRS group has proposed a series of corrective measures, including:
- The creation of a Crisis Committee to foster unity and rebuild trust among party factions
- The implementation of an interim leadership period, in accordance with party statutes
The group warned that without urgent reform, the PDCI-RDA risks further setbacks in the legislative and local elections slated for December 2025.
Broader Political Implications
The turmoil within the PDCI-RDA comes amid a broader climate of political uncertainty in Côte d’Ivoire. The opposition PPA-CI party, led by former President Laurent Gbagbo, has also seen its candidate barred from the presidential race, raising concerns about the inclusivity and competitiveness of the electoral process.
As the election approaches, the internal fractures within the PDCI-RDA underscore the challenges facing opposition parties in navigating legal, administrative, and political obstacles in a tense and polarized environment.
