Kofi Annan, the first black African to serve as UN secretary-general, has died aged 80

He won the Nobel Peace Prize for humanitarian work and served two terms from 1997 to 2006.

Former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan has died aged 80. The Ghanaian diplomat served as the world's top diplomat between 1997 and 2006, before going on to become UN special envoy for Syria. The was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001 jointly with the United Nations organisation for his efforts to "revitalise" the UN and for "having given priority to human rights". The United Nations Migration Agency confirmed his death in a statement. It reads:

"It is with immense sadness that the Annan family and the Kofi Annan Foundation announce that Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations and Nobel Peace Laureate, passed away peacefully on Saturday 18th August after a short illness."