Ivory Coast PM died

Special Desk

Ivory Coast’s PM Amadou Gon Coulibaly died after falling ill after a ministerial meeting. The 61-year-old had been chosen as the ruling party’s candidate for October’s presidential election, after Alassane Ouattara said he would not seek a third term in office. Gon Coulibaly had returned from France where he had received two-months’ heart treatment.

President Ouattara said the country was in mourning. He said Gon Coulibaly had become unwell during a weekly cabinet meeting and was taken to hospital where he later died. “I pay tribute to my younger brother, my son, Amadou Gon Coulibaly, who was for 30 years my closest partner,” the president said. “I salute the memory of a statesman of great loyalty, devotion and love for the homeland.”

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Gon Coulibaly’s death creates huge uncertainty over the election. He had received a heart transplant in 2012 and had travelled to Paris on 2 May for the insertion of a stent. He returned last Thursday saying: “I am back to take my place by the side of the president, to continue the task of developing and building our country.”

Gon Coulibaly was among the favourites to win the presidential election. Ouattara’s decision in March not to run stunned the country. Ouattara’s supporters say he has brought economic growth, stability and a renewed standing for Ivory Coast on the international stage.

But opposition politicians – and many Ivorians – say that the president has not done enough to bring the nation together, and heal the wounds of the bitter conflict that divided Ivory Coast and then brought him to power.