Former UN Secretary-General and Nobel Peace Prize winner Kofi
Annan died at age 80, his foundation confirmed Saturday, 18 August 2018.
Annan, who was born in Ghana in 1938, served as the seventh
UN Secretary-General, from 1997 to 2006, and was the first to rise from within
the ranks of the United Nations staff.
He had also been a member, since 2007, of The Elders, a
humanitarian group of a dozen leaders and activists of worldwide stature formed
by Nelson Mandela. In 2013, Annan became its chairman.
The Kofi Annan Foundation confirmed his death with
"immense sadness" in a statement posted on Twitter.
“It is with
immense sadness that the Annan family and the Kofi Annan Foundation announce
that
Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations and Nobel Peace
Laureate, passed away peacefully on Saturday 18th August after a short illness.
His wife Nane and their children Ama, Kojo and Nina were by his side during his
last days.
The family kindly requests privacy at his time of mourning.
Arrangements to celebrate his remarkable life will be announced later.”
Kofi Annan was a global statesman and a deeply committed
internationalist who fought throughout his life for a fairer and more peaceful
world. During his distinguished career and leadership of the United Nations he
was an ardent champion of peace, sustainable development, human rights and the
rule of law.
After stepping down from the United Nations, he continued to
work tirelessly in the cause of peace through his chairmanship of the Kofi
Annan Foundation and as chair of the Elders, the group founded by Nelson
Mandela. He was an inspiration to young and old alike.
Kofi Annan was a son of Ghana and felt a special
responsibility towards Africa. He was particularly committed to African
development and deeply engaged in many initiatives, including his chairmanship
of the Africa Progress Panel and his leadership of the Alliance for a Green
Revolution in Africa (AGRA).
Wherever there was suffering or need, he reached out and
touched many people with his deep compassion and empathy. He selflessly placed
others first, radiating genuine kindness, warmth and brilliance in all he did.
He will be greatly missed by so many around the world, as well as his staff at
the Foundation and his many former colleagues in the United Nations system. He
will remain in our hearts forever.
The family kindly requests privacy at his time of mourning.
Arrangements to celebrate his remarkable life will be announced later.”
As news of Annan's death has spread, tributes
have been paid by countries and global figures around the world to the statesman,
peace loving entity and the former head of the United Nations
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