Kofi Annan, the former Secretary General of the United Nations, has died at the age of 80.
His family and the Kofi Annan foundation announced that he passed away today after a short illness.
Born in Ghana, Mr Annan was the seventh secretary-general of the United Nations and the first black African to take up the role.
He served between 1997 and 2006, with his tenure coinciding with the height of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka as well as the peace process and resumption of violence.
Kofi Annan was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001 jointly with the UN, for having revitalised the UN and giving priority to human rights.
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