Former United Nations Secretary -General and Nobel Laureate Kofi Annan has died after a brief illness , aged 80 .
“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 18 th August after a short illness , ” his foundation said in a statement .
“His wife Nane and their children Ama, Kojo and Nina were by his side during his last days ,” it said .
Current UN chief Antonio Guterres voiced deep sadness at the news , describing his predecessor as “a guiding force for good”.
The Ghanaian national, who lived in Switzerland , was a career diplomat who projected quiet charisma and is widely credited for raising the world body’ s profile in global politics during his two terms as UN chief , from 1997 to 2006.
He was the first secretary -general from sub- Saharan Africa .
Annan was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with the UN in 2001 “for their work for a better organised and more peaceful world ”.
In his statement Saturday , Guterres said that “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 ,” Guterres said .
“Like so many , I was proud to call Kofi Annan a good friend and mentor .”

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