Ivorian Vice President Quits as Successor to Ouattara is Sought

(Bloomberg) -- Ivory Coast Vice President Daniel Kablan Duncan resigned, as the nation’s ruling party seeks a new presidential candidate before elections in October.

The announcement comes five days after the death of Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulbaly, who was being groomed to succeed President Alassane Ouattara as leader of the world’s biggest cocoa producer.

Duncan, 77, is leaving office “for personal reasons,” Patrick Achi, secretary-general of the Ivorian presidency, said in a statement on Monday. He submitted his resignation on Feb. 27, but it was only accepted by Ouattara on July 7 after several rounds of talks, Achi said.

Prior to being appointed vice president in 2017, Duncan served as prime minister from 1993 to 1999, and was the nation’s finance minister from 1990 to 1993. He’s also worked at the International Monetary Fund and the Dakar-Based Central Bank of West African States.

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