Barack Obama Justin Trudeau and Other World Leaders Celebrate the Life of Kofi Annan
World leaders past and present are honoring the memory of former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who died Saturday at age 80. Annan was the U.N.'s first black Secretary-General, and its seventh overall. During his 10 years in that post, Annan collected the Nobel Peace Prize and built a reputation as one of the world's most beloved diplomats, despite presiding over the U.N. during a volatile decade marked by wars and terrorism. His death, resulting from a short but unspecified illness, sent shockwaves through the global political community on Saturday, prompting world leaders including former President Barack Obama, current U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and more to issue tributes. Flags outside the U.N. headquarters will also fly at half-mast for three days, the organization announced. , , , , , "Kofi Annan inspired me and many others with his ideas, his upright beliefs, and, not in the least, his charisma," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a statement.