Koffi Panou

Koffi Panou (December 1947 - March 15 2003 [http://www.icilome.com/nouvelles/news.asp?id=33&idnews=1601&f= "Le Togo et le RPT en deuil :Les Ex-Ministres Koffi Panou et Kokou Amédégnato décédés"] , "Akéklé" N° 179, March 17, 2003 (iciLome.com, March 23, 2003) fr icon.] ) was a Togolese politician and diplomat who served under President Gnassingbé Eyadéma.

Panou, who was from Lacs Prefecture in southern Togo, [http://web.archive.org/web/20050314231738/www.afrique-express.com/archive/OUEST/togo/togobios/panou.htm Short biography] , "Afrique Express" fr icon.] became Director of National Television in the 1980s, then was a Special Advisor to the President. After serving as Secretary-General of the Presidency, he was named Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1996, in which position he served until September 1 1998, when he was named Minister of Communication and Civic Education. After two years in the latter position, he was again named Minister of Foreign Affairs in the government named on October 8 2000. [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20041028015916/www.afrique-express.com/archive/OUEST/togo/togogvts/togogvt08102000.htm "Le gouvernement du Togo formé le 8 octobre 2000"] , "Afrique Express" fr icon.] He remained Foreign Minister until being replaced by Roland Kpotsra in the government named on December 3 2002.

Panou, who had been ill and had been to France for treatment, died of a heart attackFrançois Soudan, [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/jeune_afrique/article_jeune_afrique.asp?art_cle=LIN30033koffieldifn0 "Koffi Panou : mort d'un fidèle"] , Jeuneafrique.com, March 30, 2003 fr icon.] on March 15 2003 in Kara Region; he was participating in a traditional dance at the funeral of his mother, who had died in 1999, in Kabou, Bassar Prefecture, when he fell ill, and he died while he was being taken for treatment. His funeral was held in Lomé on March 27.

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