Kofi Annan was born in Kumasi, Ghana on April 8, 1938. He studied at Kumasi University of Technology in Ghana in his early years, and then studied in the United States and Switzerland. He received a bachelor's degree in economics from Macalester College in Minnesota and a master's degree in management from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Annan joined the United Nations from 65438 to 0962 and worked in the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the United Nations Headquarters, the United Nations Office at Geneva, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Health Organization. 1974 after the "October War" in the Middle East, he served as the civil chief of the United Nations Emergency Force in Cairo. In the early 1980 s, Annan was transferred back to the United Nations Headquarters and served as the head of the personnel and financial departments. 1986 was promoted to assistant secretary-general of the United nations, responsible for the personnel department.

1990 After the Gulf War broke out, Annan was responsible for negotiating with Iraq to release the hostages of the staff of the United Nations and other international organizations. Since then, he led the United Nations team to negotiate "oil for food" with Iraq. Annan1March 1993 served as the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Affairs, in charge of UN peacekeeping operations around the world. He served as the special envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for the former Yugoslavia and the special envoy to NATO to coordinate the relations between the countries concerned.

1996 17 February 17, 5 1 The General Assembly appointed Annan as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations. 1 997 65438+1October1,and he officially took office for five years. In June 20001,the General Assembly nominated Annan for a second term as Secretary-General through the Security Council, with a term of office ending on June 65438+February 3, 20061. During his tenure as Secretary-General, Annan went to Baghdad on 1998 to mediate and solve the crisis of weapons inspection in Iraq. 200 1 1 Annan and the United Nations won the Nobel Peace Prize that year. In March 2005, the independent investigation committee led by former Federal Reserve Chairman Walker issued a report, pointing out that Annan did not commit any corruption during the implementation of the oil-for-food program in Iraq.