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Two Guinean Government Officials Die After Getting Coronavirus

Two Guinean Government Officials Die After Getting Coronavirus

(Bloomberg) --

Two senior Guinean officials died after testing positive for the coronavirus, including Sekou Kourouma, the government secretary general, according to the Information Ministry.

Salif Kebe, the head of the Electoral Commission, died on Friday from “complications of Covid-19,” the Information Ministry said in a statement on its Facebook page Sunday. Kourouma, 64, had been hospitalized in Conakry after testing positive for the virus on April 10.

Guinea’s President Alpha Conde tested negative for the coronavirus last month before Kourouma’s and Kebe’s symptoms emerged.

Conde was last seen April 10 strolling the streets of the capital Conakry, advising Guineans to drink hot water and put “menthol in their nostrils” to protect themselves against the virus. The 82-year-old leader, who is due to step down later this year after serving two five-year terms, has canceled all cabinet meetings and opted for video conference calls to stay in touch with the government.

Kebe oversaw a controversial referendum and parliamentary vote last month that paves the way for Conde to extend his time in power beyond the constitutional two terms. The vote went ahead despite Guinea having closed its borders and banned gatherings of over 50 people due to the pandemic. Abba Kyari, chief of staff to Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, also died on Friday after testing positive.

Two other Guinean government members, Minister of Security and Civil Protection Albert Damantang Camara and Minister of Public Works Moustapha Naite, tested positive for Covid-19 earlier this month.

Guinea has confirmed 518 cases of the virus since reporting its first on March 12.

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.