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Memorial Service Held for Ivory Coast PM Amadou Gon Coulibaly

VOA News

   The Ivory Coast held a televised tribute Tuesday in Abidjan
   tohonorIvory Coast Prime MinisterAmadouGonCoulibaly, who died suddenly
   last week of a heart attack.

   Coulibaly'spassing comes a few months before he was to become the
   ruling party's presumptive presidential candidate.

   PresidentAlassaneOuattara, who led the memorial service,
   consideredthe61-year oldCoulibalyto be his successor.

   There is currently no clear-cut replacement forCoulibaly, who was
   widely respected.

   KadiaCamara, Ivory Coast's Education Minister, rememberedCoulibalyas a
   gifted negotiator.

   Hesaid, "whenCoulibalyspokewith civilsociety partners and the political
   opposition, he provedhehad a great capacity for listening,
   forresilience, andfor compromise which allowed us to reach
   preciousagreements"Officialssaid.Coulibalywill be buried Friday in his
   hometown ofKorhogoin northern Ivory Coast.

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