Horst Köhler, former Germany’s president and former UN envoy for the Sahara, died on Saturday at the age of 81, according to German media.
Köhler became the head of state in 2004 before resigning in 2010. His presidency was marked by a forward-looking vision, particularly on economic issues and cooperation with the African continent. Before that, he served as Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from 2000 to 2004, playing a key role in global financial stability.
In 2017, he was appointed as the personal envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Sahara. In this role, he worked tirelessly to revive dialogue between the concerned parties – Morocco, the Polisario, Algeria, and Mauritania.
Despite his short tenure, his efforts led to two diplomatic meetings in Switzerland after a six-year hiatus in talks. However, due to health issues, he was forced to resign in May 2019.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres paid tribute to Köhler as “a man of conviction and dialogue, whose commitment to peace and international cooperation will be remembered.”
Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier honored his predecessor, describing him as “a servant of the state who always worked with integrity and humanity.”