Hammed Bakayoko, the prime minister of Ivory Coast, is dead.

Mr. Bakayoko died On Wednesday after battling cancer for a month.

Born on March 12, 1965, the prime minister died at a hospital in Freiburg city in Germany, a few days to his 56^th birthday.

His death comes  barely 8months after he was appointed as the country’s prime minister following the death of his predecessor Amadou Gon Coulibaly.

Announcing the Prime Minister’s demise in a Twitter post, Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara said the deceased was a great statesman that stood as a model for Ivory Coast youths.

He added that the deceased prime minister served the country with dedication and self-sacrifice.

“Our country is in mourning. I am deeply saddened to announce the death of Prime Minister Hamed Bakayoko, Head of Government, Minister of Defense, this Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Germany, as a result of cancer,” He wrote.

“Prime Minister Hamed Bakayoko served Côte d’Ivoire with dedication and self-sacrifice. He was a great statesman, a model for our youth, a personality of great generosity and exemplary loyalty,” He added.

Mr. Bakayoko was flown to France on February 18 following his deteriorating health condition. He was later moved to Freiburg, in southwest Germany where he passed on.

Ivory Coast government had in a statement on Friday revealed that President Ouattara met Mr. Bakayoko last week  in France, where the recommendation was made that his hospitalisation be extended.

However, Mr. Ouattara on Monday appointed his chief of staff, Patrick Achi, as interim prime minister in place of Mr. Bakayoko.