Kofi Annan's death shocking – Raila Odinga

Mr Raila Odinga of Kenya has expressed shock at the death of former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

The Ghanaian diplomat died in Berne, Switzerland – home of his wife – on Saturday 18 August 2018, at the age of 80.

Below is Mr Odinga’s tribute to Mr Annan

I am profoundly shocked to learn of the passing of Africa’s top diplomat, former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

I extend sincere condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Annan and the U.N fraternity.

In Kenya, we retain fond memories of Dr. Annan as the man who stepped in and saved the country from collapse following the 2007-2008 post-election violence. Much remains to be done of the plan he proposed for the country as a road map to lasting peace and stability and it is my hope that we could do it in his honour.

I wish to express deep gratitude and appreciation of Dr. Annan for his dedicated and tireless work in stabilizing the world and encouraging Africa to aspire to higher ideals of democracy, respect for human rights and sound governance as the path to sustainable peace and economic development.

More than any other UN Secretary-General, Annan best understood pushed the world to see the importance of human rights to peace, security, humanitarian affairs, economic and social development. His death is a major blow to the push for respect of human rights across the globe.

The world will always remember and honour Dr. Annan for what became known as “the Annan Doctrine” in which he made it clear that the need to respect sovereignty cannot be used as a shield by governments to brutalize their own citizens and that the international community has a right to intervene, when governments fail to protect the lives of their citizens. That will remain a pillar of hope for many people across the world for generations to come if it can be adhered to.

May he rest in eternal peace.