Opposition leader in Tanzania addressing an audience, highlighting political tensions and concerns over jailed leaders’ access.
Tidjane Thiam, the former CEO of Credit Suisse, has announced his candidacy for the presidency of Ivory Coast in the upcoming election. Thiam, 62, will contest under the banner of PDCI, the country’s main opposition party. A former planning minister, he has spent the past two decades abroad building a distinguished business career with firms like Aviva, Prudential, and Credit Suisse. However, Thiam is relatively unknown to many Ivorians and, as a result, will require a strong campaign to win support. His candidacy is further complicated by a legal challenge regarding his French nationality, which he gave up to qualify for the election. Incumbent President Alassane Ouattara, 83, is likely to seek a fourth term. Meanwhile, three prominent figures, including former president Laurent Gbagbo, have been barred from running.