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Former Ivory Coast foreign minister and seasoned diplomat, Amara Essy, has died at the age of 80, state television announced on Tuesday.
Essy, a prominent figure in Ivorian politics and diplomacy, was a close associate of the country’s founding president, Felix Houphouet-Boigny. He served as foreign minister throughout the 1990s, playing a central role in shaping the West African nation’s foreign policy.
His diplomatic career spanned several decades and continents. Essy began his international service in the 1970s as ambassador to Brazil, where his striking resemblance to football legend Pele often drew attention. He later went on to hold senior diplomatic positions at the United Nations, representing Ivory Coast in both New York and Geneva.
Essy also served as secretary-general of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the continental body that later transformed into the African Union (AU).
In 2015, Essy made a brief foray into domestic politics, declaring his candidacy for the Ivorian presidency. However, he withdrew from the race just three weeks before the election.
Essy is remembered as a veteran statesman who helped shape Ivory Coast’s diplomatic engagement with the world and left a lasting legacy in African diplomacy.
