Ex-Ivory Coast president Konan Bedie dies at 89
Former Ivory Coast President Henri Konan Bedie, part of an old guard of politicians who dominated politics in the West African nation for a generation, has died at the age of 89.
According to Reuters, his death was announced by a close relative on Tuesday.
Bedie served as president from 1993 until his ouster in 1999 and later ran a losing race against his long-time political rival, President Alassane Ouattara, in the 2020 elections when he was 86 years old.
It was learned that details of Bedie’s death are still sketchy, as at the time of filing this report, his spokesman could not be reached for comment.
He was long remembered—and in some parts reviled—for his role in promoting the issue of “Ivoirite”, or Ivorian identity.
The issue was said to have triggered tensions between those who considered themselves natives in the south and east and the many foreign workers from neighbouring countries who had long settled in the country’s north.
