Henri konan bedie biography template

President of Côte d'Ivoire from 1993 to 1999 (1934–2023)

Aimé Henri Konan Bédié (5 Could 1934 – 1 August 2023) was an Ivorian politician. Recognized was President of Côte d'Ivoire from 1993 to 1999, captain formerly President of the Popular Party of Ivory Coast – African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA).^[2] Foregoing to becoming president, he was a member and president end the National Assembly of Fair-skinned Coast.

He unsuccessfully sought in relation to term as president in significance 2020 presidential election.

Early life

Aimé Henri Konan Bédié was foaled in Dadiékro, Daoukro Department, change 5 May 1934. He dishonest school in France. Bédié joined the former Henriette Koizan Bomo in 1957.^[1] The couple difficult to understand four children.^[1]

Career

After studying in France,^[2][3] he became Côte d'Ivoire's foremost ambassador to the United States and Canada following independence undecided 1960,^[2] and from 1966 greet 1977, he served in class government as Minister of Conservation and Finance.^[2][3] While serving despite the fact that Finance Minister, Bédié became character first Chairman of the IMF and World Bank's joint Action Committee,^[2][4] holding that post hit upon 1974 to 1976.^[2] He was Special Advisor to the Universe Bank Group's International Finance Corporation^[2][3] from 1978 to 1980.^[3]

In 1980, Bédié was elected to grandeur National Assembly of Ivory Coast,^[5] and he was then picked out as President of the Nationwide Assembly in December 1980.

Soil was re-elected as President support the National Assembly in 1985 and 1990.^[3]

As National Assembly Superintendent, Bédié stood first in distinction line of succession to long-time President Félix Houphouët-Boigny.^[6] He proclaimed that he was assuming description presidency on state television unembellished few hours after Houphouët-Boigny's fixate on 7 December 1993.^[6] Natty brief power struggle between Bédié and Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara ensued; Bédié was successful crucial Ouattara resigned as Prime Path on 9 December.^[7] Bédié was subsequently elected as President call up the PDCI in April 1994.^[8] Per the Constitution, he served as acting president for loftiness balance of Houphouët-Boigny's seventh term.^{[citation needed]}

As President, Bédié encouraged public stability but was accused lose political repression and stratospheric levels of corruption.^[9] In the Oct 1995 presidential election, the electoral code was amended to demand presidential candidates to have anachronistic born of two Ivorian parents and have resided in character country for five years onetime to the election.

These provender were thought to have bent aimed at Ouattara. He esoteric resided in the United States since 1990 while serving slightly deputy managing director of interpretation International Monetary Fund, and her majesty father was rumored to acceptably Burkinabe. The two main candidate parties, Ouattara's Rally of description Republicans (RDR) and the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), decided face boycott the election, and Bédié won the election with 96% of the vote.^[8]

Bédié was tired in a military coup overwhelm 24 December 1999, after explicit rejected the demands of general public who rebelled on 23 December; one of these demands was for the release of associates of the RDR.^[10] Retired popular Robert Guéï became president.

Bédié fled to a French bellicose base before leaving Côte d'Ivoire by helicopter on 26 Dec and going to Togo, legislative body with family members.^[10][11] Upon arrival at the airport constant worry Lomé, he was greeted vulgar Togolese President Gnassingbé Eyadéma.^[11][12]

Bédié gone Togo on 3 January 2000 and went to Paris.^[13] Magnanimity PDCI announced in early 2000 that it would hold efficient congress to choose new management, and Bédié denounced this chimpanzee a "putsch";^[14] the party granted to retain Bédié in probity leadership, however.^[15] An international trap warrant for Bédié and Niamien N'Goran, who had served in the shade Bédié as Finance Minister, was issued in early June 2000 for alleged theft of get out funds.

Speaking on French mill, Bédié said that he was not worried that he courage be returned to Ivory Veer let slide forget to face trial at interpretation hands of a government dump he deemed illegal, expressing fulfil "faith in the law eradicate France".^[16]

Bédié registered as a runner in the October 2000 statesmanly election,^[17] although Emile Constant Bombet, who had served as Emotions Minister under Bédié, defeated him for the PDCI presidential verdict in August.^[18] Bédié was latched from running by the Native Court,^[19] along with Bombet,^[20] skull on 10 October Bédié styled for a boycott of goodness election.^[21]

On 23 June 2001, Laurent Gbagbo, who had been elect President in the 2000 discretion, met with Bédié in Town and urged him to reimburse to Ivory Coast.^[22] He at last returned on 15 October 2001.^[23][24][25] A few days later, probity 11th Ordinary Congress of greatness PDCI was postponed indefinitely strength his request.^[24]

Bédié spoke at nifty national reconciliation forum on 12 November 2001.

He attributed rank country's political crisis to say publicly December 1999 coup and good taste urged all Ivorian politicians endorse denounce the coup. He as well said that the nationalistic notion of Ivoirité, which was promoted during his presidency, was undermine attempt to bolster "cultural identity" and not a means be required of political exclusion.

According to critics of Ivoriité, it was discordant, xenophobic, and intended to dispense with political competition from Ouattara—who was claimed to be the prophet of Burkinabé parents—but Bédié unloved this criticism.^[25] When the PDCI Congress was eventually held increase by two April 2002, Bédié defeated Laurent Dona Fologo for the assemble leadership; he received 82% work the vote.^[20]

Bédié later spent other year in France, returning pull out Ivory Coast on 11 Sep 2005.

Upon his return, grace said that President Gbagbo not remain in office funds the end of his fleeting in October 2005 and go wool-gathering a transitional government should bait installed.^[26]

In an interview with Agence France Presse on 20 Haw 2007, Bédié said that illegal would be the PDCI entrant in the next presidential volition, which was then expected restrain be held in 2008.^[27]

Bédié addressed a rally in Dabou clobber 22 September 2007, in which he declared the need supply a "shock treatment" to come back the country to normal,^[28] spoken for absorbed to restore the economy,^[28] vital strongly criticized Gbagbo.^[29]

In June 2020, Bédié announced that he would run in the October statesmanlike election on behalf of representation Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire.^[30] He came in third fall into line, winning 1.68% of the vote.^[31]

Bédié died on 1 August 2023 at a private hospital enclosure Abidjan, Ivory Coast, at honourableness age of 89.^[32][33]

See also

References