In respect of the requirement that Elders are free to speak and act independently, and to allow him to devote his full energies to his critical new assignment, Kofi Annan has decided to recuse himself as a member of The Elders.
The Elders warn that more than a million people in Sudan will suffer as a result of the government's decision to expel 13 international aid agencies and call on the international community to unite to address the worsening humanitarian situation in Sudan.
Following the MDC's announcement that it will join a government of national unity, The Elders call on all Zimbabweans to unite to end the terrible suffering in their country, and urge international donors to support this development.
The Elders present the results of their 3-day assessment of Zimbabwe's humanitarian situation and recommend the formation of a truly inclusive government, as well as international donor support, to tackle the crisis.
The Elders cancel their trip to Harare, where they had planned to listen to ordinary Zimbabweans and assess the extent of the country's humanitarian needs, after the government of Zimbabwe refused to cooperate in any way to make the visit possible.
Elders Kofi Annan, Jimmy Carter and Graça Machel will arrive in Southern Africa on Friday to make a first-hand assessment of the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Kofi Annan, Lakhdar Brahimi and Graça Machel join their fellow African civil society leaders to urge an end to violence and intimidation in Zimbabwe ahead of the presidential run-off elections.
On International Women's Day, The Elders advocate women's involvement in peace-building in Kenya, arguing that much more must be done to promote women's leadership and protect women's rights worldwide.