Biography
Kofi Annan: Seventh UN Secretary-General (1938-2018)
Early Life and Education
- Born April 8, 1938 in Kumasi, Gold Coast (now Ghana)
- Studied at:
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
- Macalester College (USA)
- Graduate Institute Geneva (Switzerland)
- MIT (Master’s in Management)
- Fluent in English, French, and several African languages
UN Career Trajectory
Early Years (1962-1992):
- Joined UN system as budget officer (1962)
- Served in:
- World Health Organization (Geneva)
- UN High Commission for Refugees (Ethiopia)
- Various peacekeeping missions
Senior Leadership (1993-1996):
- Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping
- Oversaw peacekeeping during:
- Rwandan Genocide (1994)
- Bosnian War (1992-1995)
Historic Achievements as Secretary-General (1997-2006)
Institutional Reforms:
- Initiated major UN reform program (1997)
- Established:
- UN Global Compact (1999)
- Millennium Development Goals (2000)
- Peacebuilding Commission (2005)
Diplomatic Milestones:
- Awarded Nobel Peace Prize jointly with UN (2001)
- Opposed Iraq War (2003)
- Mediated in:
- Kenya post-election crisis (2008)
- Syria peace efforts (2012)
Post-UN Career and Legacy
Continued Global Leadership:
- Founded Kofi Annan Foundation (2007)
- Chaired:
- The Elders (2007-2013)
- African Progress Panel
- Special Envoy to Syria (2012)
Death and Honors:
- Died August 18, 2018 in Bern, Switzerland
- State funeral in Ghana attended by global leaders
- Memorialized through:
- Kofi Annan Peacekeeping Training Centre
- Annual Kofi Annan Faith Briefings
Key Statistics
| Achievement | Year/Data |
|---|---|
| UN Tenure | 1997-2006 (2 terms) |
| Nobel Prize | 2001 |
| Global Compact Members | 15,000+ |
| Peacekeeping Missions Overseen | 17 |
“Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.” - Kofi Annan