Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara has declared a 10-day national of mourning following the death of former Ivorian President Henri Konan Bédié.
Our correspondent quotes a statement from the government as sayin during the ten days of national mourning, the national flag will be lowered throughout the territory and in the embassies of Côte d’Ivoire abroad.
Henri Konan Bédié, president of the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI), also former president of Côte d’Ivoire, died in Abidjan on Tuesday August 1, 2023 at the age of 89.
Mr Bédié took over as the country’s second head of state after the death of Félix Houphouët-Boigny in 1993.
allegations of widespread corruption and an economic slump led to him being ousted in a military coup in 1999.
Despite being born into a relatively poor family, he excelled at school and was picked to study in France where he gained a doctorate in economics.
He attempted to return to power three years ago but was defeated by his long-time political rival President Alassane Ouattara.
The cause of Mr Bédié‘s death is unknown.
