Kofi AnnanKofi Annan was the seventh secretary-general of the United Nations-serving two terms from January 1997 to December 2006-and was the first to emerge from the ranks of United Nations staff. He has served the United Nations in various capacities ince 1962, including working as the under-secretary-general for peacekeeping operations and the special representative of the secretary-general to the former Yugoslavia. Born in Ghana in 1938, Annan is the first sub-Saharan African to hold the post of secretary-general. In 2001 he and the United Nations were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with a citation praising Annan's leadership for bringing new life to the organization. Read More Read Less