#ivory-coast

#ivory-coast

This century, several aging African leaders have also had to reject premature reports of their deaths, like Cameroon's Paul Biya last year when rumours of his demise spread on social media after he wasn't seen in public for a month. It turned out the 92-year-old, who has the distinction of being the world's oldest, non-royal, leader, was simply in residence at his second home in Switzerland.

Ivory Coast will defend their Africa Cup of Nations crown against 23 teams in Morocco, confirmed as host after Guinea's infrastructure plans were unfeasible.

"My elimination from the electoral list by the Independent Electoral Commission is a sad but eloquent example of Ivory Coast's drift towards a total absence of democracy," said Tidjane Thiam.