Editing Kofi Annan (section)

== Death and state funeral ==
Annan died on the morning of 18 August 2018 in [[Bern]], Switzerland, at the age of 80, after a short illness.<ref name=BBC>{{Cite news|date=2018-08-18|title=Kofi Annan, former UN chief, dies at 80|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-45232892|access-date=2022-04-15|archive-date=8 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181208111947/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-45232892|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="AJ">{{cite web|title=Former UN chief Kofi Annan dies|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/08/chief-kofi-annan-dies-180818093156348.html|publisher=Al Jazeera|date= 18 Aug 2018 |access-date=18 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818134022/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/08/chief-kofi-annan-dies-180818093156348.html|archive-date=18 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> [[António Guterres]], the UN secretary-general, said that Annan was "a global champion for peace" and "a guiding force for good".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2018-08-18/statement-secretary-general-passing-former-secretary-general-kofi|title=Statement by the Secretary-General on the passing of former Secretary-General Kofi Annan|publisher=United Nations|date=18 August 2018|access-date=19 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818214548/https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2018-08-18/statement-secretary-general-passing-former-secretary-general-kofi|archive-date=18 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=BBC /> [[Prime Minister of Malaysia|Malaysian Prime Minister]] [[Mahathir Mohamad]] also said he was saddened by the death of Annan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-08-19 |title=Dr Mahathir sad over Kofi Annan's death |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2018/08/402857/dr-mahathir-sad-over-kofi-annans-death |website=New Straits Times |agency=Bernama |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925172835/https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2018/08/402857/dr-mahathir-sad-over-kofi-annans-death |archive-date= Sep 25, 2023 }}</ref> His body was returned to his native Ghana from Geneva in a brief and solemn ceremony at the [[Kotoka International Airport]] in Accra, on 10 September.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=September 11, 2018|title=Body of Kofi Annan returned to Ghana for burial|url=https://nation.africa/kenya/news/africa/body-of-kofi-annan-returned-to-ghana-for-burial-86094|access-date=2022-04-15|website=Nation|language=en|archive-date=16 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416002610/https://nation.africa/kenya/news/africa/body-of-kofi-annan-returned-to-ghana-for-burial-86094|url-status=live}}</ref> His coffin, draped in the blue [[UN flag]], was accompanied by his widow Nane, his children and senior diplomats from the international organisation.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofoman.com/article/141067|title=Kofi Annan's body arrives in Ghana for state funeral|work=[[Times of Oman]]|date=September 11, 2018 |access-date=13 September 2018|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914022200/https://timesofoman.com/article/141067|archive-date=14 September 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 13 September, a [[state funeral]] was held for Annan in Ghana at the [[Accra International Conference Centre]].<ref name=GhanaWeb>{{Cite web|date=2018-08-29|title=UN Sec-Gen. to attend Kofi Annan's funeral in Ghana|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/UN-Sec-Gen-to-attend-Kofi-Annan-s-funeral-in-Ghana-680575|access-date=2022-04-16|website=GhanaWeb|language=en|archive-date=29 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829162234/https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/UN-Sec-Gen-to-attend-Kofi-Annan-s-funeral-in-Ghana-680575|url-status=live}}</ref> The ceremony was attended by several political leaders from across Africa as well as [[Ghanaian traditional rulers]], [[European royalty]] and dignitaries from the international community, including the UN secretary-general António Guterres.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.afp.com/en/news/717/final-farewell-uns-kofi-annan-ghana-state-funeral-doc-1924rg1|title=Final farewell to UN's Kofi Annan at Ghana state funeral|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=13 Sep 2018 |access-date=13 September 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913223623/https://www.afp.com/en/news/717/final-farewell-uns-kofi-annan-ghana-state-funeral-doc-1924rg1|archive-date=13 September 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Prior to the funeral service, his body [[Lying in state|lay in state]] in the [[foyer]] of the same venue, from 11 to 12 September.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/news/2018/september-11th/photos-one-last-gaze-at-kofi-annan-as-body-lies-in-state.php|website=myjoyonline.com |date=2018-09-11 |title=Photos: One last gaze at Kofi Annan as body lies in state|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913223413/https://www.myjoyonline.com/news/2018/september-11th/photos-one-last-gaze-at-kofi-annan-as-body-lies-in-state.php|archive-date=13 September 2018|url-status=dead|access-date=13 September 2018}}</ref> A private burial followed the funeral service at the new [[List of cemeteries in Accra|Military Cemetery]] at [[Burma Camp]], with [[full military honours]] and the sounding of the [[Last Post]] by army [[bugler]]s and a [[Salute#Heavy arms: gun salutes|17-gun salute]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/former-un-chief-kofi-annan-to-be-buried-after-state-funeral/2018/09/13/06a1dfae-b73c-11e8-ae4f-2c1439c96d79_story.html|title=Former UN chief Kofi Annan to be buried after state funeral|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=2018-09-13|access-date=13 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913142111/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/former-un-chief-kofi-annan-to-be-buried-after-state-funeral/2018/09/13/06a1dfae-b73c-11e8-ae4f-2c1439c96d79_story.html|archive-date=13 September 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2018/09/13/world/africa/ap-af-ghana-kofi-annan.html|title=Leaders Laud Ex-UN Chief Kofi Annan at Ghana State Funeral|access-date=13 September 2018|date=2018-09-13 |work=The New York Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913165801/https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2018/09/13/world/africa/ap-af-ghana-kofi-annan.html|archive-date=13 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/world/leaders-laud-chief-kofi-annan-ghana-state-funeral/LzG0wJjt6y9gQOG2S2lnFO/|title=Leaders laud ex-UN chief Kofi Annan at Ghana state funeral|work=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]|date=2018-09-13 |access-date=13 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913225125/https://www.ajc.com/news/world/leaders-laud-chief-kofi-annan-ghana-state-funeral/LzG0wJjt6y9gQOG2S2lnFO/|archive-date=13 September 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wral.com/former-un-chief-kofi-annan-to-be-buried-after-state-funeral/17839732/|title=Leaders laud ex-UN chief Kofi Annan at Ghana state funeral :: WRAL.com|last=<!-- WRAL -->|publisher=[[WRAL-TV]]|date=2018-09-13 |access-date=13 September 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913172129/https://www.wral.com/former-un-chief-kofi-annan-to-be-buried-after-state-funeral/17839732/|archive-date=13 September 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>