as a "great leader and reformer of the un" while angela merkel said he was an "exceptional statesman." kofi annan led the organisation for ten years and won the nobel peace prize in 2001. the current secretary—general described him today as a "guiding force for good". james robbins looks back at his life. i, kofi annan. .. the softly spoken lifelong diplomat from ghana was sworn in to lead the united nations back in 1996. he was already a hugely respected figure, but this was an age of relative innocence — 9/11 was still five years away, the iraq war seven years in the future. congratulations, sir. kofi annan tried to prevent this — the invasion and toppling of saddam hussein by george bush and tony blair without the support of the un security council. kofi annan later called it illegal. i think, as secretary—general, i did everything i could, conscious of what the results would be, you know, and being powerless to stop it.