Hamed Bakayoko, the prime minister of Cote d’Ivoire has succumbed to cancer in Germany where he was receiving treatment according to the public announcement the government made on Wednesday evening.
Mr. Hamed Bakayoko died at the age of 56, just two days after his birthday and eight months following the passing way of his predecessor Amadou Gon, who had died of a prolonged heart illness in July 2020.
He had been brought to Paris for medical treatment nearly a month ago and had recently been moved to Germany. Following the announcement of his death on national television, the president of the country, Mr. Alassane Ouattara took his Twitter page to mourn his compatriot
‘It is with great sorrow that I announce the death of Prime Minister Hamed Bakayoko. Head of state, minister of defence who died in Germany as a result of cancer… he was a great statesman, a model for our youth, a personality of great generosity and exemplary loyalty”
Bakayoko was chosen last July after then-Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly died from a heart problem. Coulibaly was President Alassane Ouattara’s chosen successor, and the incumbent leader decided to seek another term in office after his party’s preferred candidate died.
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Ouattara maintained that the country’s two-term limit for presidents does not apply to him because of a constitutional referendum passed in 2016.
Notre pays est en deuil.
J’ai l’immense douleur de vous annoncer le décès du Premier Ministre, Hamed Bakayoko, Chef du Gouvernement, Ministre de La Défense, ce mercredi 10 mars 2021, en Allemagne, des suites d’un cancer. pic.twitter.com/IfImVNdlho— Alassane Ouattara (@AOuattara_PRCI) March 10, 2021
The government said in a statement on Friday that Ouattara had met Bakayoko during a visit to France last week, and given the condition of the minister’s health, it was recommended that his hospitalization should be extended.
On Monday, Ouattara had named his close confidant and chief of staff, Patrick Achi, as interim prime minister in place of Bakayoko.
Tene Birahima Ouattara, a younger brother of the president, was named interim defence minister.