BY LOU SIFA

With reporting by Yakouba Coulibaly

Côte d’Ivoire’s Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly died today, in early afternoon in Abidjan, at the age of 61 following a massive heart attack. The sad news filed by our correspondent in the Ivorian largest city was confirmed a few moments ago on national television by the chief of staff of President Alassane Ouattara, Patrick Achi, who read an official communique. In the message read on behalf of the head of state, Achi said:

“Côte d’Ivoire is mourning. I am deeply saddened to announce that Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly passed away in early afternoon after taking part in the cabinet meeting.”

The head of state sent his “saddest condolences” to the family of the deceased head of his government, stressing his “great loyalty.”

“I pay homage to my younger brother, my son, Amadou Gon Coulibaly who was my closest aide for thirty years.”

Amadou Gon Coulibaly, who has a long history of heart problems, had a heart attack during the weekly cabinet meeting, the first one held since his return from France where he went through medical treatment and stayed for two months, upon his doctor’s strict recommendation that he get enough rest. The prime minister passed away shortly thereafter at the Polyclinique internationale Sainte Anne-Marie (PISAM) about two miles away.

The late prime minister, who had a heart transplant back in 2012, has often shown signs of poor health. His latest health concerns developed three months ago when he self-quarantined out of precaution after meeting with visitors who had tested positive for covid-19. He proved negative, but later developed a heart problem that required his being dispatched to the famous La Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital in France on May 2. The medical treatment seemed successful at first, and the high-profile patient only needed “a few weeks rest” to recover before heading back home. But the prognosis changed, and he required more medical attention on June 2.

He came back home Thursday looking weak and walking slowly. He was met at the airport by President Ouattara and first lady Dominique Ouattara along with a number of cabinet ministers and other officials.

Upon returning to his office Monday for the first time in eight weeks, a happy prime minister known to be a workaholic like his long-time mentor, President Ouattara, told his staff: “You prayed a lot, and God heard you. Glory to God.” He then urged them to get down to work:

“Now I am back. Let’s get down to work. We have to pull up our sleeves to meet the challenges facing our country. I am certain that under the leadership of the president of the republic, we’ll be able to meet those challenges in our country’s interest. We have a clear roadmap to follow.”

Just this past March, the late prime minister was chosen by the ruling party, the Rally of the Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace, RHDP, as the party’s candidate for the upcoming October 31 presidential election, as the culmination of a high-profile meeting of the party. During the announcement ceremony, Ouattara pointed out it was the party’s decision, not his own. But everyone saw it coming. Nobody doubts it’s the will of the president to see his associate of several decades carry the torch.

The president could not have hailed the choice of Gon Coulibaly in stronger terms:

“Whether it’s on the personal, professional or political levels, in my soul and conscience, Amadou Gon Coulibaly is the person I am leaving you with to be the head of state. You’ve trusted me; in turn, I ask you to trust him. Yes, trust Amadou Gon Coulibaly. He has the capability, the intelligence, the perseverance and the courage to continue the work for development and peace. I vow to stay by your side to accompany him in this noble mission.”

But destiny has a different plan for the now-mourning West African nation.