Nicholas 'Fink' Haysom has died.

• Nicholas “Fink” Haysom, the head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, has died.
• The UN announced the death of the renowned South African lawyer on Wednesday.
• UN Secretary-General António Guterres praised Haysom’s legacy as a tireless peacemaker and a remarkable friend.

Nicholas “Fink” Haysom, the head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and a renowned South African lawyer, has died.

He was 73 years old.

Haysom was the chief legal advisor to former president Nelson Mandela until 1999.

On Wednesday, the UN announced Haysom’s death, adding that he had dedicated his life to advancing peace, justice, and reconciliation in some of the world’s most challenging regions.

The UN said his career had been defined by a commitment to democratic governance, constitutional and electoral reforms, and supporting peace processes in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

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UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep sadness at Haysom’s passing, describing him as a “tireless peacemaker and steadfast champion of the values of the United Nations”.

“Mr Haysom devoted his life to justice, dialogue, and reconciliation. The United Nations mourns the loss of a remarkable colleague, friend and mentor. The legacy of Nicholas Haysom will endure in the peace processes he advanced, the institutions he strengthened, and the principles he helped bring to life around the world,” he added.

In a statement released on Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa extended his condolences to Haysom’s family, friends, former colleagues, and his associates across the African continent and within the United Nations.

“Today we mourn a distinguished diplomat and a pioneer of our democratic administration whose commitment to justice and peace made our country, our continent, and the world a better place,” Ramaphosa said.

He highlighted Haysom’s instrumental role in developing South Africa’s Constitution, describing him as a man of legal brilliance, wisdom, and integrity.

“I remember him for applying his legal acumen, mentorship, wisdom and integrity to the development of our Constitution – attributes that underscored his role in peace-making on our continent and in other world regions.

“We are obligated to honour his contribution to our nation and the international community by upholding the fundamental rights and maintaining the peace he advocated so passionately and eloquently,” Ramaphosa said.

As the country observes Human Rights Month, Ramaphosa paid tribute to Haysom’s unwavering dedication to human rights.

“We pay tribute to Fink for his dedication to human rights and the dignity of all people in all the parts of the world where his guidance was deeply respected and sought-after,” Ramaphosa said.

Haysom, who was born in April 1952, had previously served as the secretary-general’s special advisor for southern Africa and for Sudan.

He was also the special representative and head of UN Missions in Somalia and Afghanistan.

According to the UN website, Haysom was the principal advisor to the mediator in the Sudanese peace process from 2002 to 2005.

He was also involved in the Burundi peace talks as chair of the committee negotiating constitutional issues from 1999 to 2002 under the facilitation of Mandela.

From 2007 to 2012, he directed political, peacekeeping, and humanitarian affairs in the executive office of the secretary-general, and earlier, he led the office of constitutional support for the UN assistance mission in Iraq.

Haysom studied at the then-University of Natal and the University of Cape Town. He also received honorary doctorates from UCT and the New York Law School.

Zelda la Grange, Mandela's former personal assistant, described Haysom as a “formidable man” whose expertise in constitutional law and unwavering commitment to democracy made him an indispensable ally to Mandela.

“[He was] one of those people Madiba depended on long after he stopped working for him. Whenever Madiba didn’t have the appetite for a long-winded process, he would leave it to Fink to resolve,” she said.

“During the Burundi peace process, Madiba greatly relied on Fink to negotiate as his proxy with complete confidence in his ability and attitude toward the matter.”