Kofi Annan

Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan in 2012
Born	(1938-04-08)April 8, 1938 Kumasi, Gold Coast (now Ghana)
Died	August 18, 2018(2018-08-18) (aged 80) Bern, Switzerland
Nationality	Ghanaian
Occupation	Diplomat
Known for	7th Secretary-General of the United Nations

Kofi Atta Annan (8 April 1938 – 18 August 2018) was a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1997 to December 2006. Annan and the United Nations were the co-recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001 for their work for a better organized and more peaceful world.

Early Life and Education

Kofi Annan was born in Kumasi, in the Gold Coast (now Ghana), into an aristocratic family. He attended the elite Mfantsipim school, a Methodist boarding school in Cape Coast, from 1954 to 1957. Annan went on to study economics at the Kumasi College of Science and Technology, now the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and completed his undergraduate studies in economics at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1961. He later pursued graduate studies in international relations at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland.

Career

Early Career

Annan began his career with the United Nations in 1962, working as a budget officer for the World Health Organization in Geneva. Over the years, he held various positions within the UN, including serving as the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations from March 1992 to December 1996.

Secretary-General of the United Nations

Kofi Annan was appointed as the Secretary-General of the United Nations on 13 December 1996, succeeding Boutros Boutros-Ghali. He was the first person from sub-Saharan Africa to hold the position. During his tenure, Annan focused on revitalizing the UN, improving its management, and addressing global issues such as HIV/AIDS, terrorism, and human rights.

Annan's tenure was marked by several significant events, including the Iraq War, the Rwandan Genocide, and the Darfur conflict. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the Millennium Development Goals.

Post-UN Career

After leaving the United Nations, Annan continued to work on global issues through the Kofi Annan Foundation, which he founded in 2007. He also served as the UN-Arab League Joint Special Representative for Syria in 2012, attempting to mediate peace during the Syrian Civil War.

Personal Life

Kofi Annan was married to Titi Alakija from 1965 to 1983, and they had two children. He later married Nane Lagergren, a Swedish lawyer, in 1984. Annan was known for his calm demeanor and diplomatic skills.

Legacy

Kofi Annan is remembered as a champion of peace and a reformer of the United Nations. His efforts to address global challenges and promote human rights have left a lasting impact on international diplomacy.

Also see

• United Nations
• Nobel Peace Prize
• Millennium Development Goals
• Rwandan Genocide
• Iraq War