Dr. Mirza Shahid Beg

"More than ever before in human history, we share a common destiny. We can master it only if we face it together. And that, my friends, is why we have the United Nations." - Kofi Annan

Kofi Annan passed away in Switzerland, at the age of 80. He was Secretary General of United Nations from 1997 - 2006. He was the only Black African to have served at this coveted position. Apart from being Secretary General, he was also a winner of Nobel Peace Prize, which he shared with UN itself.

What World Leaders said about his sad demise:
Leaders all over the world are shocked over his death. Here are some of the statements made by popular leaders:

UK PM Theresa May:
"Sad to hear of the death of Kofi Annan. A great leader and reformer of the UN, he made a huge contribution to making the world he has left a better place than the one he was born into. My thoughts and condolences are with his family."

​​​​​​UN Chief Antonio Guterres:
"In many ways, Kofi Annan was the United Nations. He rose through the ranks to lead the organization into the new millennium with matchless dignity and determination"

Ex-US President Barack Obama:
"Annan had always pursued 'a better world'."

A quick timeline of Kofi Annan’s life and career

• Born on 8th April 1938 in Kumasi, Ghana.
• Completed his schooling in 1957 from Cape Coast.
• Got his first job at UN in 1962
• Graduated from MIT in 1972
• Becomes UN Secretary-General in 1997
• Got Nobel Peace prize in 2001
• Became head of the delegation to find a resolution to Syria conflict in 2012
• Bids farewell to the world in 2018

Cause of Death of Kofi Annan

Kofi Annan was in Switzerland, with his family by his side, during his last days. The details of his death are still sketchy, and his family has not yet released official information about the cause of death; except that he died of a short sickness. However, some of the publications believe that he died due to a Protracted Illness.

A protracted illness is a type of sickness that typically lasts a few months. This is different from a Chronic illness that could last for a very long time. There could be multiple reasons for a Protracted illness, like pneumonia, bronchitis, etc. An example of a Chronic illness is Diabetes.

The statement released by his family about his death did not divulge many details about what type of sickness he was suffering from and there are only theories at this time. However, the details would probably be available soon that what caused the death of this peacekeeper.

What Next
Kofi Annan worked towards making the world a better place. His work encapsulated all the corners of the world, with a special focus on the African continent, where he worked tirelessly for the upliftment of all the countries. He ensured that his work would not stop, even in his absence. For this, he set up Kofi Annan foundation in 2007. This foundation is now taking forward the causes he was working on. 

Here is a parting quote from this visionary leader who will be forever missed:

"To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there."