ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — Thousands of protesters gathered in Ivory Coast 's capital Abidjan on Saturday to demand the reinstatement on the electoral list of main opposition leader Tidjane Thiam, a former CEO of Credit Suisse, who was barred from running in the presidential election set for October.
Despite heavy rain, protesters peacefully gathered near the independent electoral commission, the body responsible for organizing the vote, in Abidjan.
On June 4, the electoral commission had excluded Thiam from the final list of presidential candidates along with three other prominent opposition candidates.
Earlier this year, a court ruled that Thiam was not eligible to run because of his dual Ivorian-French nationality, a decision that Thiam vowed to fight. Born in Ivory Coast, Thiam received French nationality in 1987 but gave it up in March.
Dressed in green and white, the colors of Thiam’s Democratic Party of Ivory Coast, or PDCI, protesters on Saturday held signs in support of the opposition leader, with some chanting “Corrupt justice” and “Thithi president.”
“Beyond my own case, this is a movement to ensure democracy prevails in our country. I will soon be with you in Abidjan so we can continue this fight,” Thiam, who was not present at the protest, said in a Facebook video thanking the protesters.
Senior PDCI officials were allowed inside the electoral commission building to deliver a letter demanding that excluded candidates be reinstated on the electoral list.
“We strongly denounce the arbitrary and unjust removal of President Thiam and other key opposition leaders from the electoral list,” PDCI Executive Secretary Sylvestre Emmou told reporters following the meeting with members of the commission.
In recent weeks, dissent has grown in the West African nation, fueled by the exclusion of the opposition candidates from the voter roll and the anticipation of a ruling party congress later this month, where President Alassane Ouattara is expected to announce his bid for the October 25 election.
Ouattara has been in power since 2011 and is currently serving his third term. Despite Ivory Coast having a two-term limit for presidents, he argues it doesn’t apply to him due to a constitutional referendum passed in 2016.
In 2020, Ouattara won a disputed election boycotted by the opposition.
There have been some fears of post-election violence erupting in Ivory Coast, where more than 3,000 people were killed following a disputed vote over a decade ago.
Then-CEO Tidjane Thiam attends the annual general meeting 2019 of the Credit Suisse (CS) bank in Zurich, Switzerland, Friday, April 26, 2019. (Ennio Leanza/Keystone via AP, File)
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka captured her second consecutive Brisbane International title and 22nd career singles crown after a straight-sets victory over Marta Kostyuk on Sunday.
Sabalanka appeared in her third straight Brisbane final and the Belarusian looked in comfortable surroundings as she won 6-4, 6-3 in Pat Rafter Arena.
The Brisbane International is a tuneup for the Australian Open which begins next Sunday.
Kostyuk went hard early by attacking Sabalenka’s second serve, clawing back an early break with sublime drop shots that briefly rattled the world No. 1.
However, Sabalenka’s relentless intensity and match smarts proved decisive as she exploited the oppressive Brisbane humidity with punishing baseline rallies to clinch the opening set in 40 minutes.
Kostyuk wilted under the physical strain and Sabalenka accelerated in the second set.
With a mix of raking groundstrokes and deceptive drop shots, she forced a mounting error count from the Ukrainian to close out the match without dropping a set all week.
After the victory, Sabalenka looked down the court at Kostyuk and kissed both biceps, a likely nod to previous comments by Kostyuk that she possessed higher testosterone levels than other players.
Kostyuk has said the comments last year were taken out of context but increased the tensions between the pair since the Ukrainian's refusal to shake Sabalenka's hand after a match at the 2023 French Open.
The post-match trophy presentation was frosty. Kostyuk spoke passionately about her homeland but notably declined to mention Sabalenka by name.
“I want to say a few words about Ukraine,” Kostyuk said. “I play every day with a pain in my heart. There are thousands of people who are without light and warm water right now, it’s minus-20 degrees outside right now, so it’s very, very painful to live this reality every day.
"I was incredibly moved and happy to see so many Ukrainian fans and flags here this week … slava Ukraini (glory to Ukraine).”
Sabalenka, meanwhile, congratulated Kostyuk, stating she hoped they would meet in another final soon. She also took a cheeky dig at her boyfriend Georgios Frangulis.
“Hopefully soon I will call you somehow else,” Sabalenka said looking at Frangulis in the player's box. “That just put extra pressure, right?”
Later, Daniil Medvedev also won his 22nd singles title after easing past Brandon Nakashima 6-2, 7-6 (1) in the men's final.
The Russian dominated the American in the tiebreaker, claiming the first five points.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus poses with the winners trophy after winning the women's final match against Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine 6-4, 6-3, at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, right, hugs her support team after winning the women's final match against Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine 6-4, 6-3, at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)
Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine reacts after missing a shot during the women's final match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus plays a shot during the women's final match against Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus waves to the crowd after winning the women's final match against Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine 6-4, 6-3, at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)
