David Dacko - Opposition, Illness and Death

Opposition, Illness and Death

During the first and second presidential terms of Ange-Félix Patassé (1993–1999 and 1999–2003), Dacko continued to participate actively in politics as a leader of the opposition. Dacko and Kolingba were the main leaders of the opposition, with Kolingba being generally more powerful than Dacko. Dacko ran for president for the last time in the 1999 elections, coming in third place with 11.2% of the vote.

After General François Bozizé overthrew Patassé and proclaimed himself president, Dacko participated in the Dialogue National (National Dialogue) that began on September 9, 2003, but shortly thereafter, on September 27, 2003, Dacko had an attack of asthma. He decided to travel to France to seek treatment, but during a stopover in Yaoundé, Cameroon on November 7, 2003, he was taken to the General Hospital of Yaoundé where he died at 10 p.m. on November 20, 2003. The CAR government declared a month of national mourning in memory of former President Dacko. On December 13, 2003 he was buried in Mokinda, near his residence.