Alassane Ouattara

Prime Minister of Côte d'Ivoire Hamed Bakayoko died of cancer on Wednesday in a hospital in Freiburg (Germany). He had just turned 56 on March 8th.

President Alassane Ouattara wrote on Twitter: "Our country is in mourning. I am deeply saddened to announce the death of Prime Minister Hamed Bakayoko, Head of Government, Minister of Defense, this Wednesday March 10, 2021, in Germany, as a result of cancer.

Opposition leaders have joined thousands of opposition supporters to protest President Alassane Ouattara's plan to seek a third term in the Oct. 31 presidential election. People held banners that said "The people say no to an illegal third term" and "Stop to a third term".

Ouattara has been in power for almost a decade and has announced he'd run for a third term after his chosen successor's sudden death.

Côte d'Ivoire President Alassane Outtara said he will run for re-election in October. Outtara has already served the maximum of two terms. Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly was supposed to be his successor for the upcoming election, but he died earlier this month.

Outtara went on television and said: "Faced with this case of force majeure and out of civic duty, I have decided to respond favourably to the call of my fellow citizens asking me to be a candidate in the presidential election of 31 October 2020."

The opposition has condemned this move and pointed out that the constitution forbids a third term.