The deadly remains of Ivory Coast Prime Minister Hamed Bakayoko were returned to Abidjan in Ivory Coast yesterday, March 13. The head of government died on Wednesday in Germany at the age of 56 from a dazzling cancer. The Ivorian president, the deceased family, officials, but also hundreds of anonymous people were present when the coffin arrived to pay tribute to the statesman.
From our correspondent in Abidjan,François Hume- Ferkatadji
When President Boeing arrives at Abidjan Airport, the Ivorian president, in a dark suit and black hat, walks slowly towards the asphalt on his arm, the youngest of the four deceased. Alassane Ouattara bends for a long time on the coffin covered with an orange-white-green flag in lead-free silence.
► To read too: Hamed Bakayoko dies: an 8-day national mourning in Ivory Coast
The coffin toHamed Bakayokocarefully conveyed by the military in front of an audience of all that Ivory Coast has senior officers, high officials or ministers. A few beans and the remains move towards the morgue in the economic capital, Ivoire sepulture.
HamBak Glory T-Shirts
Along the way, hundreds of people cheer the passage of the funeral procession. Young people from all parts of the city hold up signs: “Hamed, why you?”. Others wore T-shirts to praise “HamBak” and said “Hamed Bakayoko, the state star”.
“For us, we came to testify of our gratitude for all that he has done for the Ivorian nation,” said one of them. “This minister was good, he was close to the youth. We can not say everything he did for us. If there are many who do not work, he gave us work, ”continues another.
“I’m in pain, I’m in pain”
A man walked several kilometers to get to the edge of the airport: “It is not easy on foot. For him, we are ready for anything. We will also go to the village to accompany him to his last home ”. Further on, a woman can not limit her hollows when the lamppost passes by: “It hurts, it hurts.”
The national funeral is to take place at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday. Burial of the body is scheduled for next Friday in Séguéla, the northwestern part of the country.
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