On Saturday, the Kofi Annan Foundation announced the passing of former United Nations Secretary-General and Nobel Prize Laureate Kofi Annan in a statement.

“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 statement began.

Annan, born in Ghana, was the first black African to lead the United Nations. He rose through the ranks of the UN staff before finally assuming the role at the head of the international assemblage. He served in that position from 1997 to 2006.

Reacting to Annan’s passing, President Barack Obama issued a statement praising the former UN head for his “integrity, persistence, optimism, and sense of our common humanity.”

It reads, in full:

Kofi Annan was a diplomat and humanitarian who embodied the mission of the United Nations like few others. His integrity, persistence, optimism, and sense of our common humanity always informed his outreach to the community of nations. Long after he had broken barriers, Kofi never stopped his pursuit of a better world, and made time to motivate and inspire the next generation of leaders. Michelle and I offer our condolences to his family and many loved ones.

Annan was 80.

Read the full statement from the Kofi Annan Foundation on his passing below.

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… pic.twitter.com/NDOy2NmAAs

— Kofi Annan Foundation (@KofiAnnanFdn) August 18, 2018

[image via Facebook]

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