Coronavirus: Abba Kyari and 10 other top African govt officials who have died of COVID-19
The coronavirus pandemic is no respecter of social class, political or economic status and religious/non-religious affiliations; every class, the poor, the rich, the powerful, etc., has been affected.
In Africa, COVID-19 has killed over 1,000 people. More than 24,000 cases have been recorded while over 6,000 people have survived the infectious disease.
Among those killed by the dreaded virus are top government officials across the continent.
Legit.ng lists in this piece top 10 African government officials, from former president to former prime minister, secretary-general of government, chief of staff, etc. who have lost their lives to COVID-19.
Source: UGC
1. Abba Kyari, Buhari's Chief of Staff
President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, died of COVID-19 on Friday, April 17, weeks after contracting the virus during his foreign trip.
Kyari is the first senior public official in Nigeria to die of coronavirus.
He was buried on Saturday, April 18, according to Islamic rites, at Gudu Cemetery in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
2. Suleiman Achimugu, former PPMC MD
Suleiman Achimugu, a former managing director of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of the NNPC who died from COVID-19.
The 67-year-old former managing director was confirmed to have died of the virus on Sunday, March 22, following symptoms of the disease shortly after his return to the country from the United Kingdom.
Achimugu’s death was the first recorded casualty of the COVID-19 infection according to the NCDC.
It was explained that the former managing director who was in self-isolation upon his return from the UK personally called the NCDC after experiencing some discomfort that was related to COVID 19 symptoms.
He tested positive for coronavirus and was promptly evacuated to a specialist hospital where he died while being treated.
3. Sékou Kourouma (Guinea) Guinea’s Secretary-General of Government
Until his death, Sékou Kourouma was Guinea’s Secretary-General of Government. He was also reportedly a close friend of President Alpha Conde.
He died from the coronavirus in Conakry on Saturday, April 18, the government said in a statement on Sunday.
4. Jacques Joaquim Yhombi-Opango (Congo), former president
Jacques Joaquim Yhombi-Opango, a former president of the Republic of Congo, Jacques Joaquim Yhombi-Opango, died of COVID-19 in France. He had been ill before contracting the virus.
The former president died on Monday, March 30, at the age of 81.
5. Ms Rose Marie Campoare (Burkina Faso), prominent lawmaker
Ms Compaore was a leading lawmaker and the first vice President of the parliament in Burkina Faso.
She succumbed to COVID-19 on Tuesday, March 17, at the age of 62 years.
6. Major Generals Shafie Abdel Halim Dawoud, Egypt's senior military official
Major General Shafie Abdel Halim Dawoud died of coronavirus on Monday, March 23
Khaled Shaltout (Egypt), senior military officials
Major General Khaled Shaltout also died of coronavirus on Sunday, March 22.
7. Amadou Salif Kebe (Guinea), head of electoral body
Amadou Salif Kebe was the head of Guinea’s electoral body until he died of COVID-19 on Friday, April 17.
8. Mukendi wa Mulumba, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Jean-Joseph Mukendi wa Mulumba served as the acting head of the Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi’s legal advisory council before his death.
He died on Tuesday, March 24 in the capital, Kinshasa.
9. Nur Hassan Hussein – aka Nur Adde (Somalia), former prime minister
Nur Hassan Hussein was a former prime minister of Somalia. He died on Wednesday, April 1, in London at the age of 82.
10. Kahlif Mumin (Somalia), Minister of State for Justice
Until his death, Khalif Mumin was a top official of the Hirshabelle region of Somalia and Minister of State for Justice.
He died on Sunday, April 12, at Maritini Hospital in the capital Mogadishu.
11. Mahmoud Jibril (Libya), former prime minister
Mahmoud Jibril was a former prime minister and served as the interim leader of Egypt until the country held its first free elections in 2012 following the removal of Muammar Gaddafi.
Jibril died of COVID-19 in an Egyptian hospital in April at the age of 68.
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Abba Kyari: Buhari’s chief of staff dies from coronavirus, Nigerians react | Legit TV
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