President Buhari Mourns Ivorian Prime Minister, Coulibaly

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed grief over the death of Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly of Cote d’Ivoire who was also a candidate for the country’s presidential election in October.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement said Buhari condoled with President Alassane Ouattara, the government and people of Cote d ‘Ivoire, saying the Prime Minister, who breathed his last in the line of duty at a cabinet meeting, left behind a void not only in his country, but also in the West African subregion which had looked up to him as an emerging leader.

‘’His leadership, political and business acumen, working in support of President Ouattara, epitomises the success story of the economy and the return of peace and stability after the crises Cote d’Ivoire passed through. May God bless his soul and further unify the country and its people,” Buhari said.

Amadou Gon Coulibaly, Ivory Coast’s prime minister and the governing party’s candidate for an October presidential election, died on Wednesday, just days after returning from two months of medical treatment in France.

The 61-year-old, who had heart surgery in 2012, became unwell during a weekly cabinet meeting and was taken to a hospital where he passed away, according to a spokesman for President Alassane Ouattara.

Coulibaly’s death creates huge uncertainty over the election in Ivory Coast, the world’s top cocoa grower, which has returned to normalcy after years of political turbulence and a brief civil war that killed 3,000 people.

Ouattara issued a statement calling Coulibaly “my youngest brother, my son” and his closest political ally for 30 years.

“I salute the memory of a statesman of great loyalty, devotion and love for his country,” he added.

Ouattara had designated Coulibaly as the RHDP candidate in March after announcing that he himself would not seek a third term.