18/8/2018/US SEC
Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has died at the age of 80 after a short illness.
A statement shared on the Nobel Peace Prize laureate’s official account said that Mr Annan spent his final days with his wife Nane and children Ama, Kojo, and Nina.
Mr Annan was the first black African to become UN Secretary-General, a role he held between 1997 and 2006.
He was a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001 with the UN for prioritising human rights in the role.
“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.”
After stepping down from his role in the United Nations Mr Annan set up the Kofi Annan foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that aims to promote better global governance.
He also chaired The Elders, a group of elder statesmen founded by Nelson Mandela that promote global peace and human rights.
His foundation described Mr Annan as a ‘deeply committed internationalist’ who worked ‘tirelessly’ for the cause of peace.
