Kofi Annan, the former United Nations secretary general, has died at the age of 80 after a short illness, his family and foundation announced on Saturday. He “passed away peacefully on Saturday after a short illness”, the foundation named after him said on Saturday.
Annan was the first black African to take up the role of the world’s top diplomat, serving from 1997 to 2006. He later served as the UN special envoy for Syria, leading efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.
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“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 foundation said in a statement.
Speaking moments after the announcement, UN special envoy Peter Thompson told Sky News: “He was one of the great diplomats of our time.”
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