Is Ivory Coast’s red card politics an own goal for democracy after Tidjane Thiam’s ban

Former CEO Tidjane Thiam’s presidential ambitions in Ivory Coast face a significant setback after a court ruled he lost his citizenship due to his French nationality, barring him from the October election. Thiam, who returned to Ivory Coast in 2022, was poised as a strong candidate representing the opposition Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI) against incumbent President Alassane Ouattara. This decision may further disenfranchise voters and weaken the political landscape, already marked by discontent among the youth amid a backdrop of military coups in nearby West African nations.