The Republic of Congo’s opposition presidential candidate Guy Brice Kolelas succumbed to Covid-19 a day after the country went to general elections.
The late Kolelas died when he was being taken to France for treatment. Christian Cyr Mayanda, his campaign director confirmed the incident on Monday. He said that Mr. Kolelas died in the medical aircraft which came to get him from Brazzaville, France on Sunday 21/3/2021.
The opposition chief Mr. Brice had skipped his final campaign rally and sent his last message to his supporters while he was hospitalized. He said that he was fighting death and urged his supporters to continue fighting for the betterment of their Country and for the future of their children
“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 said before his death
Kolelas finished runner-up to leader Denis Sassou Nguesso in the 2016 presidential election with about 15 percent of the vote. His father, Bernard Kolelas, was briefly Congo’s prime minister in 1997 during the country’s civil war.
