Published on: 2026-09-08
Source: United Nations
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
8 September 2026 UN
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday paid tribute to Dag Hammarskjöld at a wreath-laying ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of the death of the Organization’s second head. Guterres once again called on all parties to declassify the remaining documents regarding the crash that claimed the life of the Swedish diplomat.
“The values Dag Hammarskjöld fought for, and the passion with which he defended them, have been for many years an example and source of inspiration for me and countless UN colleagues,” Guterres said.
Dag Hammarskjöld held the post of Secretary-General since April 1953. He died in a plane crash in what is now Zambia along with 15 other UN staff members and crew on the night of September 17 to 18, 1961. He was heading to the city of Ndola to secure a ceasefire between the Congolese government and the rebels. The exact circumstances of the crash remain unknown. Investigations conducted after the incident concluded that the cause of the plane crash was either adverse weather or pilot error. However, in 2013, the International Commission of Jurists called on the UN to conduct a new investigation, citing newly uncovered facts that refute previous versions, and suggested that the plane crash could have been caused by gunfire either from the ground or air.
The investigation continues
He recalled that he recently received another report from the former chairman of the Supreme Court of Tanzania, Mohamed Chande Othman, who has been investigating the circumstances of the crash for several years.
According to Guterres, the progress made is encouraging, and he will soon present his new recommendations for further steps to the General Assembly.
The UN chief noted that although states have already handed over some materials to experts, some documents are likely still classified. He again urged all parties to provide any records they have.
“We will not stop trying to establish what happened that night. The families of the deceased, the United Nations – and the whole world – deserve answers,” the Secretary-General emphasized.
He reminded that today’s ceremony is a tribute to all UN staff who have given their lives in the service of the Organization. According to him, over the past three years, the number of such losses among UN colleagues has reached record levels.
Work for peace
Guterres noted that the anniversary of Hammarskjöld’s death is observed at a time when international cooperation is undergoing serious challenges: wars continue, the planet is warming, human rights are being trampled. It is precisely in such moments, he said, that the principle exemplified by Hammarskjöld can serve as a guiding light: integrity in the face of brute force and compassion.
The Secretary-General quoted Hammarskjöld himself: “Our work for peace must begin in the inner peace of each one of us. To build a world without fear, we ourselves must be without fear. To build a world of justice, we must be just.”
“Let us live without fear. Let us be just. And let us never give up work for the sake of peace,” concluded Guterres, inviting those present to observe a moment of silence in memory of Dag Hammarskjöld and all who died with him.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of information. It represents an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.