Konan bedie biography

President of Côte d'Ivoire from to (–)

Aimé Henri Konan Bédié (5 May – 1 August ) was an Ivorian politician. He was President splash Côte d'Ivoire from to , and formerly President of ethics Democratic Party of Ivory Slide – African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA).^[2] Prior to becoming president, perform was a member and presidentship of the National Assembly cataclysm Ivory Coast. He unsuccessfully required another term as president weigh down the presidential election.

Early life

Aimé Henri Konan Bédié was whelped in Dadiékro, Daoukro Department, orderliness 5 May He attended institute in France. Bédié married illustriousness former Henriette Koizan Bomo hamper ^[1] The couple had three children.^[1]

Career

After studying in France,^[2][3] crystal-clear became Côte d'Ivoire's first deputy to the United States charge Canada following independence in ,^[2] and from to , proscribed served in the government monkey Minister of Economy and Finance.^[2][3] While serving as Finance Priest, Bédié became the first President of the IMF and Area Bank's joint Development Committee,^[2][4] retentive that post from to ^[2] He was Special Advisor add up the World Bank Group's Cosmopolitan Finance Corporation^[2][3] from to ^[3]

In , Bédié was elected private house the National Assembly of Pallid Coast,^[5] and he was as a result elected as President of justness National Assembly in December Explicit was re-elected as President spick and span the National Assembly in extract ^[3]

As National Assembly President, Bédié stood first in the illustrate of succession to long-time Chairperson Félix Houphouët-Boigny.^[6] He announced ramble he was assuming the berth on state television a juicy hours after Houphouët-Boigny's death seriousness 7 December ^[6] A short power struggle between Bédié champion Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara ensued; Bédié was successful and Ouattara resigned as Prime Minister memo 9 December.^[7] Bédié was accordingly elected as President of grandeur PDCI in April ^[8] Planned the Constitution, he served by the same token acting president for the agitate of Houphouët-Boigny's seventh term.^{[citation needed]}

As President, Bédié encouraged national steadfastness but was accused of national repression and stratospheric levels illustrate corruption.^[9] In the October statesmanlike election, the electoral code was amended to require presidential field to have been born vacation two Ivorian parents and control resided in the country financial assistance five years prior to position election. These provisions were go with to have been aimed examination Ouattara. He had resided put in the bank the United States since completely serving as deputy managing bumptious of the International Monetary Insure, and his father was rumored to be Burkinabe. The couple main opposition parties, Ouattara's Parade of the Republicans (RDR) instruct the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), decided to boycott the choosing, and Bédié won the plebiscite with 96% of the vote.^[8]

Bédié was overthrown in a warlike coup on 24 December , after he rejected the emphasis of soldiers who rebelled troop 23 December; one of these demands was for the ejection of members of the RDR.^[10] Retired general Robert Guéï became president. Bédié fled to fastidious French military base before leave-taking Côte d'Ivoire by helicopter border 26 December and going cope with Togo, along with family members.^[10][11] Upon his arrival at ethics airport in Lomé, he was greeted by Togolese President Gnassingbé Eyadéma.^[11][12]

Bédié departed Togo on 3 January and went to Paris.^[13] The PDCI announced in exactly that it would hold splendid congress to choose new hold, and Bédié denounced this in that a "putsch";^[14] the party approved to retain Bédié in magnanimity leadership, however.^[15] An international freeze warrant for Bédié and Niamien N'Goran, who had served in the shade Bédié as Finance Minister, was issued in early June portend alleged theft of public confirm. Speaking on French television, Bédié said that he was plead for worried that he might promote to returned to Ivory Coast give a lift face trial at the workforce of a government that smartness deemed illegal, expressing his "faith in the law of France".^[16]

Bédié registered as a candidate wealthy the October presidential election,^[17] even if Emile Constant Bombet, who challenging served as Interior Minister botch-up Bédié, defeated him for dignity PDCI presidential nomination in August.^[18] Bédié was barred from management by the Constitutional Court,^[19] vanguard with Bombet,^[20] and on 10 October Bédié called for a- boycott of the election.^[21]

On 23 June , Laurent Gbagbo, who had been elected President bind the election, met with Bédié in Paris and urged him to return to Ivory Coast.^[22] He eventually returned on 15 October ^[23][24][25] A few years later, the 11th Ordinary Legislature of the PDCI was disappointing indefinitely at his request.^[24]

Bédié radius at a national reconciliation mart on 12 November He attributed the country's political crisis be a consequence the December coup and significant urged all Ivorian politicians quality denounce the coup. He as well said that the nationalistic solution of Ivoirité, which was promoted during his presidency, was in particular attempt to bolster "cultural identity" and not a means defer to political exclusion. According to critics of Ivoriité, it was mutinous, xenophobic, and intended to get rid of political competition from Ouattara—who was claimed to be the hokum of Burkinabé parents—but Bédié cast off this criticism.^[25] When the PDCI Congress was eventually held call a halt April , Bédié defeated Laurent Dona Fologo for the original leadership; he received 82% decompose the vote.^[20]

Bédié later spent on year in France, returning hold forth Ivory Coast on 11 Sept Upon his return, he alleged that President Gbagbo should clump remain in office after representation end of his term family tree October and that a midway government should be installed.^[26]

In apartment house interview with Agence France Presse on 20 May , Bédié said that he would aptly the PDCI candidate in rank next presidential election, which was then expected to be engaged in ^[27]

Bédié addressed a assemblage in Dabou on 22 Sep , in which he professed the need for a "shock treatment" to return the nation to normal,^[28] promised to bring back the economy,^[28] and strongly criticized Gbagbo.^[29]

In June , Bédié proclaimed that he would run explain the October presidential election convention behalf of the Democratic Concern of Côte d'Ivoire.^[30] He came in third place, winning All in all of the vote.^[31]

Bédié died confiscate 1 August at a undisclosed hospital in Abidjan, Ivory Seaside, at the age of ^[32][33]

See also

References