Citizens of Niger Republic are currently mourning the death of Minister of Employment and Labour, Mohamed Ben Omar, who died Sunday afternoon.

He was 55 years old.

Announcing the death, the Social Democratic Party revealed via WhatsApp that Omar passed away at the main hospital of the capital Niamey.

They, however, failed to disclose the cause of the death, but many suspect he may have died of coronavirus disease.

Niger has confirmed 736 cases of COVID-19 with 35 deaths.

Reacting, President Mahamadou Issoufou described Omar’s death as shocking.

He said he received the news with a “heavy heart”.

Omar led the PSD, which is allied with Issoufou’s Party for Democracy and Socialism and became Issoufou’s labour minister since 2017.

Omar began his political life in 1999 under president Mamadou Tandja, serving in parliament.