Ivory Coast’s PM Amadou Gon Coulibaly has died after falling ill at a ministerial meeting.
The 61-year-old had been chosen as the ruling party’s candidate for October’s presidential election after Alassane Ouattara said he would not seek a third term in office.
According to BBC, Mr. Gon Coulibaly had only just returned from France where he had received two-months’ heart treatment.
President Ouattara said the country was in mourning.
He said Mr. Gon Coulibaly had become unwell during a weekly cabinet meeting and was taken to hospital where he later died.
Mr. Gon Coulibaly had received a heart transplant in 2012 and had travelled to Paris on 2 May for the insertion of a stent.
He returned last Thursday saying:
“I am back to take my place by the side of the president, to continue the task of developing and building our country.”
Mr. Gon Coulibaly was among the favourites to win the presidential election.