Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, has expressed his heartfelt condolences following the passing of His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV. The Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and founder of the Aga Khan Development Network, died peacefully in Lisbon, Portugal, at the age of 88.
The Aga Khan’s passing was announced on Wednesday morning by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in a statement shared on social media. The statement read:
“His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, Aga Khan IV, 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), passed away peacefully in Lisbon on 4 February 2025, aged 88, surrounded by his family. Prince Karim Aga Khan was the founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network. An announcement regarding his designated successor will follow.”
Following the news of his death, UN Chief Antonio Guterres took to social media to express his grief. On X (formerly Twitter), he posted:
“I am deeply saddened by the news that His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, Aga Khan IV, has passed away. He was a symbol of peace, tolerance, and compassion in our troubled world. I express my deepest condolences to His Highness’s family and the Ismaili community.”
Throughout his life, the Aga Khan made an indelible impact on millions of lives worldwide. Through the Aga Khan Development Network, he championed numerous infrastructure and development projects that improved the quality of life for countless individuals and communities globally.
One notable example of his legacy is the recently inaugurated Specialty Health Centre in Uganda, a state-of-the-art facility designed to revolutionize healthcare in the region.
The Centre is part of the Aga Khan Development Network’s ongoing commitment to transforming healthcare delivery, offering high-quality medical services and advanced treatments to communities in Uganda and beyond.
The health facility is expected to greatly improve access to specialized medical care, contributing to the overall betterment of the healthcare system in the country.