Skip to content
Words of Wisdom —

Kofi Annan on Human Solidarity

“We need to create a world that is equitable, that is stable and a world where we bear in mind the needs of others, and not only what we need immediately. We are all in the same boat.”

-Kofi Annan, Former Secretary-General of the United Nations (1997-2006)

Annan was the seventh person to serve as leader of the United Nations:

1. Trygve Lie, Norway (1946-52)

2. Dag Hammarskjöld, Sweden (1953-61)

3. U Thant, Burma (1961-71)

4. Kurt Waldheim, Austria (1972-81)

5. Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, Peru (1982-91)

6. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Egypt (1992-96)

7. Kofi Annan, Ghana (1997-2006)

8. Ban Ki-moon, South Korea (2007-Present)

Secretaries-general are elected to 5-year terms. Although there is no set term limit, none in the position have ever achieved a third. Ban Ki-moon, up for re-election again in 2016, could become the first. If he chooses to retire, the progressive factions may prioritize electing a woman to be the 9th secretary-general.

Related
History is Made in Burma
United Nations Secretary General, Ban ki moon, was this week in Myanmar, or Burma as Western and some domestic opponents continue to call the country. It is not the first […]
Guest Thinkers
#7: End Aid to Africa
When President George W. Bush came to office in 2001, the U.S. was sending $1.4 billion a year to Africa in humanitarian and development aid, including programs intended to foster […]
Up Next