Henri Konan Bédié, the president of PDCI and former Ivorian head of state, passed away at the PISAM clinic in Abidjan on Tuesday, August 1, 2023. After the news was confirmed, Danièle Boni-Claverie mourns the sphinx of Daoukro.
Henri Konan Bédié died at the International Polyclinic Sainte-Marie (PISAM) in Cocody at the age of 89. The causes of his death are not yet known, but he was reportedly evacuated urgently from Daoukro by helicopter. Despite the efforts of the medical team to save him, he eventually passed away after being admitted to the intensive care unit.
After the announcement of his death, Danièle Boni-Claverie, currently the president of the Union Républicaine pour la Démocratie (URD), is at a loss for words to express this devastating news. “We are truly in shock,” she said. In a confused tone, she continued, “We didn’t expect this. It’s terrible…”
From her perspective, “This wasn’t the right time. He should have waited a bit.” Her words convey pain, despair… and even a feeling of incomprehension in the face of a situation that no one saw coming, plunging the PDCI-RDA into an uncertain future.
The death of the former president has stirred emotions across the country. Many people are paying tribute to honor the memory of a respected and admired politician. The government has declared a national mourning in honor of the man who left a significant mark on the political history of Côte d’Ivoire.
