Ivory Coast PM, Hamed Bakayoko, Dies In Germany

President Alassane Ouattara of Ivory Coast said Hamed Bakayoko has died on Wednesday following cancer treatment in a German hospital.

Bakayoko had turned 56 on Monday.

Ouattara while expressing the pains from the death of Bakayoko through a statement said, “my son and close collaborator, torn from us too soon.”

Bakayoko took over as prime minister in July last year from Amadou Gon Coulibaly, who died after returning to the Ivory Coast for two months in France where he had been treated for heart problems.

Read Also: Ivory Coast Opposition Leader Arrested

But Bakayoko, who was also the country’s defence minister travelled to France for health reasons on February 18 and was later transferred to Germany.

Hamed Bakayoko

“Given the state of his health, he should remain in hospital for some time,” Ouattara had said on Saturday, asking people to pray for the premier.

Bakayoko’s office had been filled in his absence by Patrick Achi, previously secretary-general to the West African country’s presidency.

Tene Birahima Ouattara, a younger brother of the president, was named interim defence minister.

Official results released Tuesday handed Ouattara’s party a parliamentary majority after legislative elections held at the weekend, with observers hoping the peaceful process has broken with past outbreaks of electoral violence.

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