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LAST UPDATE | 18 Aug 2018
THE FORMER SECRETARY General of the United Nations Kofi Annan has died.
Annan, who led the UN from 1997 to 2006, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001. He was the first black African secretary of the organisation.
The Ghanaian diplomat died in hospital in Bern, Switzerland, in the early hours of this morning, Reuters reports. He was 80 years old.
His foundation announced his death in a tweet, 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,” the Kofi Annan Foundation said.
Current UN chief Antonio Guterres voiced deep sorrow at the news, calling his predecessor “a guiding force for good”.
“Kofi Annan was a guiding force for good,” Guterres said in a statement shortly after the news broke.
In many ways, Kofi Annan was the United Nations. He rose through the ranks to lead the organisation into the new millennium with matchless dignity and determination.
The UN Migration Agency said: “Today we mourn the loss of a great man, a leader, and a visionary: Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. A life well lived. A life worth celebrating.”
President Michael D Higgins said Annan left “an indelible legacy on the global community”.
“He will in particular be remembered for his tireless efforts to increase the commitment of governments and businesses alike in the vital efforts to eradicate poverty and violent conflict. His inspirational leadership led to the articulation of the Millennium Development Goals, which galvanised countless new global solidarity initiatives.”
“He was a voice constantly reminding us of the importance of protecting the instruments for multilateral action, and of urgent action to tackle climate change and to assist those vulnerable communities who are experiencing its effects most acutely.
“He was a great representative of his country Ghana and of the African continent, and his wisdom, empathy, humour and insights will be greatly missed by all.”
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, also paid tribute to Annan, describing him as a “dear friend to Ireland”.
“Kofi Annan was a dear friend of Ireland and continuously demonstrated strong support for our own peace process and in particular the Good Friday Agreement, which was signed during his leadership of the UN,” he said.
“Mr Annan maintained a dedicated interest to Ireland and the maintenance of peace on this island, commentating as recently as April 2018 on the GFA and its legacy.”
‘Humanity’s best example’
Born in Kumasi, the capital city of Ghana’s Ashanti region, Annan was the son of an executive of a European trading company, the United Africa company, a subsidiary of the Anglo-Dutch multinational Unilever.
After ending his second term as UN chief, Annan went on to take high-profile mediation roles in Kenya and in Syria.
He later set up a foundation devoted to conflict resolution and joined the Elders group of statesmen which regularly speaks out on global issues.
The UN high commissioner for human rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said he was grief-stricken over Annan’s death.
“Kofi was humanity’s best example, 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.
“He was a friend to thousands and a leader of millions.”
Annan is survived by his wife, Nane, and their children Ama, Kojo and Nina, who were by his side when he died.
With reporting by AFP © – AFP 2018
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RIP to a great man.
@aboutallthethings: Really?
https://www.heritage.org/report/kofi-annans-legacy-failure
@Tyler Williams: Well… He was right what he said accusing the USA about the Iraq war wasn’t he? The Iraqis were worse off after the invasion and no WMD were ever found.
@Nomis Andrews: Ah yes, good oul Kofi Annan, who blithely ignored the clear warnings from the UN commander in Rwanda that a genocide was about to take place when he was deputy Secretary General.
But hey, at least he wanted Saddam Hussein to be kept in power! Blessed are the peacemakers, and all that.
@ihcalaM: BS…he pleaded for forces to be sent to Rwanda. Plenty of narratives available proving this.o
@Eddie O’Connor: Pleaded? He denied a request from Romeo Dalliare, the UN man on the ground in Rwanda, for UN action to be taken on the genocide.
Not only that, he did not pass on the warnings given to him by Dallaire about the impending mass slaughter.
This is a matter you can easily look up – Annan himself publicly admitted his catastrophic failure to act in Rwanda (not that his apology did anything to bring back the hundreds of thousands who were murdered).
His recent passing doesn’t mean he gets a free pass on his history, I’m afraid. And it doesn’t mean we should make things up about him.
@Tyler Williams: Ahh yes, the ever reliable, impartial, heritage foundation.
RIP, an icon of the 90′s, promoted peace.
@Ciarán: truly an icon of the 90′s. Balkans genocide, commercial invasion of Iraq but he was morally oppose to it.a man of many words and principles but no substance
Great ambassador of peace in our time. Rest in Peace in the arms of the angels.
@Fiona Ryan: what a beautiful comment! :)
Rip Red, Loved him in The Shawshank Redemption
@Paul Carew: Hhhmmm????
@Paul Carew: incorrect…he was in Pulp Fiction
@Paul Carew: didnt he play one of the Sisters?
@Paul Carew: The tools are out today… go pollute some other article and show some respect
@The PURGED: I’d like to say Paul fought the good fight….
@The PURGED: oh get over yourself!
So few leaders of his quality in the world today, rip to a great man
I remember the cartoon from the Phoenix mag at the time of his tenure
Mary Robinson and Annan meeting for the first time and he says “Kofi”
She replies “Yes thank you two sugars milk”
You could have listened to him all day .
Right up there with aung San suu kyi , Clinton’s and Tony Blair. Legends in their own egos
@Greedylocks: you could add our own Bertie to that list!
@Sean: spot on Sean
Rest in peace Kofi Annan
@akaalison: good thing you put his name in the comment, on the article about him, otherwise people might think you were referring to Aretha Franklin or someone else…
@BigNuts: She’s right to write full sentences, this is the Journal, comments do go astray from time to time.
Wonder what Alex Jones is saying about this Globalist member of the New World Order on Facebook and Twitter? Oh right, Nothing.
RIP Kofi.
Thoughts are with his wife Ann.
I would have answered Morgan Freeman.
@banana man: you’ll be right after they’ve made the film.
Too few time’s does a good man rise to the top.Evil is now an accepted norm.
R.I.P.
Glad i can say i met him.was such a humble n charismatic man.
When one uses opinions such this you have already lost. Do some proper research. KA, when head of peacekeeping, pleaded for forces to move into the conflicts he is accused of doing nothing in. Look at the background into Rwanda – US, Russia, UK ignored his pleas for forces. US wanted an easier and more PR beneficial missions. Dont depend on neo-con mouthpieces for your info
@Eddie O’Connor: “all of us must bitterly regret that we did not do more to prevent it. On behalf of the United Nations, I acknowledge this failure and express my deep remorse.”
- Annan in 1999, after a independent report he comissioned was critical of his inaction (and the response of others at the UN).
Romeo Dallaire was virtually ignored by Kofi Annan’s office, and that brave man had to watch as the horrors unfolded (with only a skeleton UN force, thanks to the lack of political will above him).
Historical fact. Not ‘neo-con’ history. Read up, Eddie.
Bless him. He was one of the best heads of the UN. Condolences to his family. RIP.
Rip
What a great man he was . When he spoke everyone listened . He will be sadly missed from this world. Rest in peace .
Brilliant man !! RIP
God be good to such a great visonary and leader for our future it’s people like that that paved the way. Rip
Another role for Morgan Freeman!
Those short illnesses are deadly.
Rest in power sir!
Sing Sweetheart Sing
Rest in power sir!
Rest in power sir!
Rest in power sir!
@Repealed, lovely!: ok ok we get it
Between himself and Mary they made the U.N. into a toothless quango and the world is now a far worse off place.
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