The United Nations has reacted to the death of its former Secretary-General, Kofi Annan.

The 7th UN Secretary-General died in a hospital in Bern, Switzerland in the early hours of Saturday.

The current UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, paid glowing tributes to Annan, who headed the intergovernmental organisation from 1997 to 2006.

Guterres in a statement hailed Annan as “a guiding force for good” and a “proud son of Africa who became a global champion for peace and all humanity.”

“Like so many, I was proud to call Kofi Annan a good friend and mentor.

“I was deeply honoured by his trust in selecting me to serve as UN High Commissioner for Refugees under his leadership.

“He remained someone I could always turn to for counsel and wisdom – and I know I was not alone.

“He provided people everywhere with a space for dialogue, a place for problem-solving and a path to a better world.

“In these turbulent and trying times, he never stopped working to give life to the values of the United Nations Charter. His legacy will remain a true inspiration for us all.”

Annan was the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations, after Egyptian diplomat, Boutrous Boutrous-Ghali exit in December 1996.