Guy Brice Parfait Kolelas, the leading opposition presidential candidate in Congo-Brazzaville, has died of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Kolelas died on Sunday, according to his campaign director.
His campaign director told the AFP that Kolelas “died in the medical aircraft which came to get him from Brazzaville on Sunday afternoon” for evacuation to France.
The 61-year-old tested positive for coronavirus on Friday, the last day of election campaigns.
He was diabetic and was one of six candidates running against incumbent President Sassou Nguesso, 77.
A day before the election, Kolelas was filmed looking weak and wearing an oxygen mask but encouraging voters to go cast their ballots.
He was the son of a former prime minister and previously held the position of minister of fishing and civil servants.
The electoral law of Congo-Brazzaville does not annul the election if one of the candidates dies.
