Côte d’Ivoire’s PDCI Faces Fresh Leadership Dispute

ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire — Côte d’Ivoire’s main opposition party, the PDCI-RDA, is facing renewed internal tensions over the leadership of Tidjane Thiam.

The dispute centres on challenges from some party activists concerning Thiam’s length of service within the party’s political bureau and whether he meets internal requirements. The controversy has prompted competing positions from senior PDCI figures.

PDCI vice-president Djedri N’Goran has publicly defended the party’s leadership amid the dispute, warning against treating the historic opposition organisation as something that can simply be taken over or divided.

The internal disagreement comes at a sensitive moment for the PDCI, which remains one of Côte d’Ivoire’s most important opposition forces following the 2025 presidential and legislative elections.

The leadership controversy could influence the party’s internal organisation and its ability to maintain a unified political strategy.

For Côte d’Ivoire’s opposition, resolving the dispute could be crucial to preserving party cohesion and strengthening its position ahead of future electoral contests.