In a note, Michaëlle Jean, the Secretary General of the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF) has expressed "deep and great sadness" at the news of the passing away of Boutros Boutros-Ghali, former Secretary General of the United Nations and first Secretary General of the OIF, which occurred Tuesday, February 16, 2016.

"I want to pay tribute to a man who worked tirelessly for world peace, for democracy, rights and freedoms. We can not say enough the tireless efforts he has made throughout his academic career, political, diplomatic, to make recognize, respect, advancing these universal values. Altermondialist, he had a modern vision and equitable of development of the South," Ms. Jean said.

"Today, the francophone family mourns the loss of a great activist of the Francophonie and a father for the Francophonie institutional, political, inclusive of all these forces, youth, women, civil society. I extend my deepest condolences to his wife and family and to the Egyptian people," added Michaëlle Jean.

IH/ iciHaiti