Former US President Jimmy Carter dies at 100

Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, passed away at the age of 100 on Sunday.

Carter, who served from 1977 to 1981, had been in hospice care since mid-February 2023 at his home in Plains, Georgia.

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According to a statement from the Carter Center, he died “peacefully” at his home, “surrounded by his family”.

His son, Chip Carter, said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights and unselfish love.”

“My brothers, sister and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honouring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.”

After serving as governor of Georgia, Carter rose to the presidency at a difficult time for the US, marked by Cold War tensions, an energy crisis, and the Iran hostage crisis. 

Despite a single term in office, Carter brokered the historic Camp David Accords, which led to a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.

Following his defeat in the 1980 presidential election, Carter founded The Carter Center in 1982 after leaving the White House, to promote democracy, health, and human rights globally. 

He became a leading advocate for humanitarian causes, including efforts to eradicate the guinea worm disease.

He also won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his work in conflict resolution and human rights advocacy.

Carter was the oldest living former American president and the nation’s longest-lived president of all time. 

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