Alzazeera

Annan served as UN secretary-general from 1997 to 2006 and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001.

Kofi Annan, a former secretary-general of the United Nations and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has died aged 80.

The Ghanaian diplomat passed away at a hospital in the Swiss capital, Bern, on Saturday after a “short illness”, his foundation said in a statement.

“Kofi Annan was a global statesman and a deeply committed internationalist who fought throughout his life for a fairer and more peaceful world,” the statement said.

“He was an ardent champion of peace, sustainable development, human rights and the rule of law,” it added.

Annan served as the seventh UN chief for almost a decade, from 1997 to 2006. Having joined in 1962, he was the first staffer to take over the top UN job and the first hailing from sub-Sahara Africa.

In 2001, he received the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with the UN, lauded for “bringing new life to the organisation”.

On Saturday, current UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described Annan as “a guiding force for good”. Tiếp tục đọc “Former UN chief Kofi Annan dies at 80” →