Kofi Annan, one of the world’s and Africa’s most iconic diplomats and a symbol of the United Nations who rose through its ranks to become the first black African secretary general, has died. He was 80.
His foundation, Kofi Annan Foundation, announced his death in a tweet on Saturday, saying that he died after a short unspecified illness.
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… pic.twitter.com/42nGOxmcPZ
— Kofi Annan (@KofiAnnan) August 18, 2018
Ghanaian born Annan died in hospital in Bern, Switzerland, in the early hours of Saturday, According to two close associates.
Kofi Annan spent virtually his entire career as a United Nations Administrator, served two terms as secretary general from Jan. 1, 1997 to Dec. 31, 2006. This culminated in him and the UN jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001.
In the words of The UN high commissioner for human rights, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, he said Annan was “the epitome of human decency and grace.”
“In a world now filled with leaders who are anything but that, our loss, the world’s loss, becomes even more painful,” he said.
“International leader, wise mentor, valuable adviser, good friend, role model,” was how UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi described Annan. “We at UNHCR, and millions of others around the world, will miss him very much.”
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Twitter that Annan’s “warmth should never be mistaken for weakness. The UN and the world have lost one of their giants.”
“Kofi Annan lived well and worked for global peace, security and sustainable development in very challenging times. A proud son of Ghana and Africa,” said Ghana’s former president John Dramani Mahama.
“He was a good friend whom I saw only weeks ago,” said Britain’s former prime minister Tony Blair.
Zimbabwe”s opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa was among those in Zimbabwe mourning Annan’s death. “Deeply saddened by the sudden passing of the iconic Kofi Annan whom I met a few days ago,” Chamisa said on Twitter. “A rare breed of diplomat; soft-spoken but unshakably firm.”
#RIPKofiAnnan pic.twitter.com/A3RuyxKhYm
— Charles Kwaku-Odoi (@charleskod) August 18, 2018
