Henri Konan Bedie, the former President of Ivory Coast and a prominent figure in the country’s long-standing political establishment, passed away at the age of 89, according to a close relative who confirmed the news to journalists on Tuesday.
Bedie served as president from 1993 until his removal in 1999. Later, at the age of 86, he contested against his long-time political rival, incumbent President Alassane Ouattara, in the 2020 elections but was unsuccessful.
The cause of Bedie’s death remains uncertain.
Throughout his political career, Bedie was both respected and criticized for his role in advocating the concept of “Ivoirite,” which focused on defining Ivorian identity. This issue led to tensions between those who identified as natives in the south and east regions and the numerous foreign workers from neighboring countries who had long settled in the north of the country.
