Congo’s Opposition Candidate Kolelas, 61, Dies of Covid-19 a Day after Elections

Guy Brice Parfait Kolelas, leading opposition presidential candidate in Republic of Congo’s election, died on Sunday, a day after the country went to the polls.

Kolelas was hospitalised on the eve of the elections and died of Covid-19 as he was being taken to France for treatment, his campaign director Christian Cyr Rodrigue Mayanda told AFP news agency on Monday.

Kolelas “died in the medical aircraft which came to get him from Brazzaville on Sunday afternoon”, added Mayanda.

On Saturday, a family member told the Associated Press that Kolelas was receiving treatment at a private hospital in the capital Brazzaville after contracting the coronavirus.

Kolelas skipped his final campaign event on Friday after telling some reporters a day earlier that he feared he had malaria.

A video circulating on social media dated Friday showed Kolelas, 61, wearing an oxygen mask and with a blood pressure cuff on his arm as he lay in a hospital bed.

“My dear compatriots, I am in trouble. I am fighting death,” the candidate said in a weak voice after removing his oxygen mask. “However, I ask you to stand up and vote for change. I would not have fought for nothing.”

Kolelas finished runner-up to leader Denis Sassou Nguesso in the 2016 presidential election with about 15 percent of the vote.

The opposition figure has been particularly critical of the incumbent leader in recent days, declaring that the Republic of Congo had become “a police state”.

Kolelas was seen as the main rival to Nguesso, who has lead the central African country for a total of 36 years.

Mayanda called on Kolelas’ supporters to rally at 1100 am local time (1000 GMT).

“We’ll continue to count the ballots. He was ahead in a number of areas,” he said.

Provisional election results are not expected for days, but Sassou Nguesso is widely expected to win.

Follow us on:

AriseNews

Recent Posts

German Consul General Boerner Calls for Greater Media Freedom in Nigeria

German Consul General Boerner stressed media freedom’s importance, noting Nigeria’s 112th press freedom rank and…

3 mins ago

FG Approves 2025-2026 MTEF, Targets N47.9trn For 2025

The Federal Executive Council approved Nigeria’s 2025-2027 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, setting the federal budget at…

2 hours ago

Michael Oglegba: Benue State Is Embracing Mechanisation to Transform Agriculture

Benue State’s Commissioner for Finance has emphasised the need for farming to evolve from a…

2 hours ago

Government Should Conduct Forensic Audit Before Funding Power Sector; NNPC Probe Long Overdue, Says Abdullahi Shinkafi

Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi has called for overdue NNPC investigation and forensic audits in the…

5 hours ago

Sudan War Death Toll Significantly Much Higher Than Recorded, Researchers Say

Researchers have suggested Sudan’s war death toll may be significantly underreported, indicating a graver humanitarian…

5 hours ago

Bomb Blast Outside Brazil’s Supreme Court Sparks Security Fears Ahead of G20 Summit

A man detonated explosives near Brazil’s Supreme Court in a suspected suicide bombing, raising concerns…

6 hours ago