Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has died aged 80, the UN Migration Agency has confirmed. He won a Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work and was the first black African to take up the role of the world’s top diplomat, serving two terms from 1997 to 2006. He later served as the UN special envoy for Syria, leading efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.
The Kofi Annan Foundation this morning announced that he ‘passed away peacefully on Saturday after a short illness’. In a statement, the foundation described him as a ‘global statesman and deeply committed internationalist who fought throughout his life for a fairer and more peaceful world’. It added: ‘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.’ Tony Blair led tributes to the former secretary-general, calling him a ‘true statesman’.