Ivory Coast Prime Minister, Coulibaly Dies At 61

Gon Coulibaly, Prime Minister of Ivory Coast, has died at the age of 61.

Patrick Achi, presidential spokesman, in a statement today, said Coulibaly fell I’ll while the  cabinet meeting was ongoing, and was evacuated to a hospital where he passed away.

Naija News had learnt that President Alassane Ouattara had nominated Coulibaly to succeed him later this year.

He was nominated under the ruling Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace Party (RHDPP) in March.

He had returned to the country from France, after a prolonged stay on July 2.

NaijaNews understands th

He had traveled regularly to France since having a heart surgery in 2012.

Despite his prolonged hospitalisation in Paris, the ruling party’s executive director had said there was no “plan B” to Coulibaly.

When he returned to the country last Thursday, he had said: “I am back to take my place by the side of the president, to continue the task of developing and building our country.

Ivory Coast now has four months to nominate a successor to the outgoing president.