Former Ivorian trade minister Jean-Louis Billon has declared his intention to represent the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI) in the upcoming October presidential election, following the exclusion of Tidjane Thiam, the party’s original candidate, from the final list of contenders.
Billon, 60, announced his candidacy during an interview with Reuters in Abidjan, expressing frustration over what he described as the PDCI leadership’s poor handling of legal issues surrounding Thiam’s bid. Thiam, the former CEO of Credit Suisse, was disqualified by the electoral commission due to a ruling that he held French nationality when he registered, despite renouncing it earlier this year.
“It’s a shame that President Thiam was eliminated, but it was the result of the lack of preparation of certain party officials,” Billon said. “That’s why you always have to have several strings to your bow, especially when you’re in politics.”
The PDCI, one of the country’s main opposition parties, now faces internal uncertainty as it scrambles to nominate a new candidate. Billon, though firmly requesting the party’s endorsement, did not rule out the possibility of running under a different banner if necessary.
The disqualification of Thiam and the broader debate over nationality has revived old wounds in a country where citizenship status has long been a source of political strife. Ivory Coast’s post-2010 electoral crisis, largely rooted in identity politics, claimed around 3,000 lives and still casts a shadow over national elections.
In response to these tensions, Billon pledged to push for reforms allowing dual nationality for Ivorian citizens if elected. “You have thousands of Ivorians who live abroad, who have made their lives abroad, and who end up having dual nationality,” he said.
Beyond legal reforms, Billon outlined a platform focused on streamlining the civil service, combating corruption, stimulating private sector investment, and decentralizing governance by relocating more government functions to Yamoussoukro, the official capital.
With President Alassane Ouattara, 83, yet to announce whether he will seek another term, Billon emphasized the need for generational change. “Ivory Coast will change. I think our elders have had their day,” he asserted.
As the October vote approaches, the PDCI faces a critical decision in selecting a new flagbearer, one that could shape both the election outcome and the future of Ivorian democracy.
Written By Rodney Mbua
