Kofi Annan, the former UN secretary-general who won the Nobel Peace Prize for humanitarian work, has died aged 80 after a short illness, international diplomats say.
Annan was the first black African to take up the role of the world’s top diplomat, serving two terms from 1997 to 2006.
He later served as the UN special envoy for Syria, leading efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.
Annan was key in bringing peace to Kenya following the disputed 2007/08 General Election that spiralled into violence that left many displaced and hundreds dead.
It was Annan who helped bring former President Mwai Kibaki and Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga to the table in 2008 as violence spread, threatening the very fabric of Kenya’s society.