ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — A court in Ivory Coast ruled on Tuesday that Tidjane Thiam, a former CEO of Credit Suisse, is not eligible to run for president because of his dual Ivorian-French nationality, according to a lawyer representing him.
Thiam won his party's primary on Friday in an uncontested vote and was widely seen as the main challenger to President Alassane Ouattara.
In a video posted to social media Tuesday night, Thiam vowed to fight this decision.
“I will not accept this disbarment because it is unjust, unjustified and incomprehensible,” he said. “I am absolutely determined to fight so that Ivorians can freely choose their next president.”
The latest court case follows the rejection on April 16 of 10 similar appeals by the Independent Electoral Commission, also known by its French acronym CEI. Although deemed admissible, these cases were declared “ill-founded” by the electoral institution.
Speaking to The Associated Press following the decision, Me Ange Rodrigue Dadjé, one of Thiam’s lawyers, said that “the president of the tribunal delivered her decision."
“She considered that ... Thiam had lost his Ivorian nationality when he acquired French nationality (in 1987), and therefore granted the petitioners’ requests and ordered ... Thiam’s removal from the electoral roll,” Dadjé said.
Thiam's lawyers didn't offer any challenge to the ruling.
Ivory Coast is set to hold the vote in October. Ouattara won in 2020 after a disputed election left dozens dead and opposition candidates boycotted the election.
FILE - Tidjane Thiam, CEO of Credit Suisse, speaks at the Bloomberg Global Business Forum, Sept. 25, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — R&B singer Cassie delved further into text messages with former boyfriend Sean “Diddy” Combs during her cross-examination Friday in the music mogul's sex trafficking trial, saying she told him “I'm not a rag doll. I'm somebody's child" after he beat her at a Los Angeles hotel in 2016.
However, as they tried to recover from the episode, she and Combs were expressing love for each other just days later, with Cassie writing in one text: “We need a different vibe from Friday.” She and one of Combs' defense attorneys read the couple's messages aloud during two days of cross-examination in a Manhattan courtroom.
In the “rag doll” text, Cassie, whose legal name is Casandra Ventura, told Combs he was out of control from drugs and alcohol that day. After hotel security video of the assault was released last year, Combs apologized and said he was “disgusted” by his actions.
Before the defense ended its cross-examination on Friday afternoon, it also tried to discredit Cassie's testimony that Combs raped her in 2018 after she ended their nearly 11-year relationship.
Federal prosecutors allege Combs exploited his status as a music executive and businessman to force women into drug-fueled encounters with male sex workers, called “freak-offs,” that he watched and directed. Cassie is one of several accusers expected to testify at the trial.
However, Combs’ lawyers want the jury to see Cassie as a willing and eager participant in his sexual lifestyle. He has pleaded not guilty to federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges. His defense says that, although he could be violent, nothing he did amounted to a criminal enterprise. And Combs insists all the sex at the freak-offs was consensual.
Cassie, the prosecution’s star witness, testified she became ashamed and loathed taking part in “hundreds” of those encounters, which could go on for days. But she said she felt compelled because Combs threatened her with violence, and was physically abusive “a lot” during the freak-offs. He also threatened to publicly release sex videos of her if she made him angry, she said.
Combs, 55, has been jailed since September. He faces at least 15 years in prison if convicted.
Cassie, who is pregnant with her third child and nearing her due date, spent four days on the witness stand. Combs' lawyers had her read texts appearing to show her enthusiasm for the sexual encounters.
Cassie said she was initially open to the idea of letting Combs watch her have sex with strangers because she wanted to make him happy and spend time with him, but she grew weary of the encounters as the years went on.
In a 2012 exchange, Combs told Cassie he wanted to “FO one last time tonight,” using initials for freak-off. Cassie replied, “What?” Then Combs said, “You can’t read?” Cassie replied, “I don’t want to freak off for the last time. I want it to be the first time for the rest of our lives."
Estevao ended her questioning there, but prosecutor Emily Johnson then had Cassie read more of the messages to provide additional context.
“I want to see you, but I’m emotional right now,” Cassie wrote Combs. “I don’t want to do one last time. I’d rather not do it at all.”
Cassie read other texts on Thursday showing her willingness to participate in the sexual encounters.
The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly, as Cassie has.
Cassie filed a lawsuit in 2023 accusing Combs of physical and sexual abuse, but they settled within hours for $20 million — an amount she disclosed publicly for the first time this week. Dozens of other women have since made similar legal claims.
Estevao also raised questions on Friday about Cassie's rape claim against Combs, noting that Cassie gave differing descriptions of his demeanor and the timing of the alleged assault in interviews with investigators and in her trial testimony.
Cassie contends the rape happened at her Los Angeles home after she and Combs had dinner in Malibu, California, to discuss their breakup, either in August or September 2018.
While Cassie testified this week that Combs was “really nice” and “playful” at the dinner, Estevao pointed out that Cassie told investigators in 2023 that Combs had been “acting very strangely” that night. Cassie clarified, “Nice, but strangely."
Cassie also testified this week that Combs, during the dinner, was trying to get her to go to the Burning Man festival in Nevada, but previously told investigators that the dinner and rape happened after Combs returned from Burning Man.
Cassie acknowledged she stayed in touch with Combs and had consensual sex with him a few weeks after she says he raped her. She also exchanged warm messages with Combs after they broke up, even after she marrying Alex Fine in 2019.
Jurors on Friday heard a 2013 recording of Cassie demanding a friend show her a sex video he said he'd seen, and threatening to kill him if it became public.
“I’ve never killed anyone in my life, but I will kill you,” Cassie told the man, punctuating her threats with profanity. She testified that Combs later made efforts to keep the video private.
Estevao also questioned Cassie about her weeks-long stint in a treatment center for women in 2023. Estevao noted the center offered treatment for sex addiction, sexual compulsion and love addiction, and she asked Cassie if she was treated for any of those things.
Cassie replied that she was not, but rather was there for therapy to help her process trauma. She testified earlier that she experienced post-traumatic stress disorder before breaking up with Combs in 2018, and was blacking out and sleepwalking. She also said she broke down in 2023 and tried to walk into traffic outside her home, but her husband stopped her.
Associated Press writer Dave Collins in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report.
Cassie Ventura wipes tears from her eye while testifying in Manhattan federal court, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)
FILE - Cassie Ventura, left, and Sean "Diddy" Combs appear at The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala celebrating "China: Through the Looking Glass" in New York on May 4, 2015. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - Cassie Ventura, left, and Sean "Diddy" Combs, arrive at the Los Angeles premiere of "Can't Stop, Won't Stop: A Bad Boy Story" at the Writers Guild Theater, June 21, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP File)
Sean Diddy'Combs, far left, and attorney Marc Agnifilo, right, sit at the defense table during witness testimony in Manhattan federal court, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)
Cassie Ventura takes an oath before testifying in Manhattan federal court, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)
