Founder of modern Mauritania dies; Annan sends condolences

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed sorrow today over the death of former President Moktar Ould Daddah of Mauritania, who led his West African country to independence and served as its first president from 1961 to 1978.

Mr. Annan “joins other Africans in mourning yet another of modern Africa’s founding fathers – one of the continent’s pioneers who, through his courage and commitment propelled his people to freedom and worked for social and economic development in the post-colonial era,” a spokesman for the Secretary-General said in a statement.