Ivory Coast Prime Minister Hamed Bakayoko has died of cancer in Germany. He had a long media and political career in the West African nation.
Ivory Coast Prime Minister Hamed Bakayoko died of cancer in Germany on Wednesday at the age of 56, the government announced. Bakayoko, a possible successor to current Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, was receiving treatment at a hospital in Freiburg.
Bakayoko was recently transferred to Germany after traveling to Paris a month ago for medical care. Ouattara had met with Bakayoko in France last week, with the president describing him as a “great statesman.”
“The prime minister served Ivory Coast with dedication and selflessness,” Ouattara said in a statement expressing his condolences.
African Development Bank Group President Akinwumi A. Adesina said he was “very saddened” by Bakayoko’s death in a tweet. “May his soul rest in peace,” he said.
