Tidjane Thiam, the leader of the PDCI-RDA (Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire), announced on Friday, February 7, 2025, that he has renounced his French nationality to exclusively hold Ivorian nationality. This decision is a key requirement for eligibility in the upcoming presidential election on October 25, 2025, for which he hopes to be the candidate of the party founded by Félix Houphouët-Boigny.

In a short video broadcast on PDCI TV, Tidjane Thiam appeared alongside his two legal advisors. He shared that he had completed "an administrative formality [...] that was planned for a long time." According to Thiam, "This morning, along with my advisors, we took an important step in this process, which is part of my planned schedule. We submitted my request for renouncing French nationality, which will allow me to be exclusively Ivorian at the time of the election, as required for eligibility."

When he was elected head of the party in December 2023, the PDCI cadres passed a motion naming him as their candidate for the presidential race. However, before that, the PDCI will hold a political bureau meeting on April 5, 2025, in Yamoussoukro. This body will decide on a date for a convention that "will be open to all those who wish to run for president," said Soumaïla Bredoumy, the party's spokesperson, a few weeks ago.

Another notable figure who has announced their presidential aspirations is Deputy Jean-Louis Billon, who has been holding meetings for several weeks to persuade party members to back his program.