Swiss Cornelio Sommaruga, who led the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for nearly thirteen years, died at the age of 91, his son, the politician, announced to Swiss media on Monday, February 19 Carlo Sommaruga. He died during the night from Saturday to Sunday, he said.
The ICRC said it was “deeply saddened” by this news, describing the man who was its president from 1987 to 1999 as a tireless defender of victims of armed conflicts. “Cornelio Sommaruga tirelessly carried the voices of those affected by armed conflict. He was able to mobilize the international community, forcefully, to better protect them through international humanitarian law, for example by committing to the ban on anti-personnel mines, which led to the Ottawa Treaty,” wrote the ICRC. in a press release.
“A fervent defender of the fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence, he has inspired many humanitarian vocations through his commitment, his charisma and his integrity,” he added.
A mandate during several wars
Born in Rome in 1932, into a family from the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, he held a doctorate in law from the University of Zurich. Before joining the International Committee of the Red Cross in 1986, Cornelio Sommaruga held various positions in Swiss diplomacy. He was notably the deputy secretary general of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
During his tenure as head of the ICRC, the world underwent major historical upheavals, around the end of the Cold War. Under his leadership, the ICRC faced the war in former Yugoslavia, the first Chechen war and the genocide in Rwanda.
He later reportedly recounted that the December 1996 killing of six ICRC expatriates while they were sleeping in Chechnya, in the Russian Caucasus, was the most difficult challenge he faced during his tenure. Following these assassinations, the ICRC strengthened its humanitarian diplomacy with all conflict actors, governments and non-governmental armed groups.
After leaving the ICRC, Mr. Sommaruga carried out, among other things, several missions for the United Nations and chaired the International Center for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) in Geneva.
