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Nicholas ‘Fink’ Haysom, Mandela Adviser and UN Peacemaker, Dies at 73

Official tributes cast his career as a model of constitutional reform and conflict mediation.

Overview

  • Haysom died on March 18, 2026, in New York at age 73, according to multiple official statements and news reports.
  • His daughter, Rebecca Haysom, told the Associated Press he died after a long battle with heart and lung complications.
  • UN Secretary-General António Guterres hailed him as a principled lawyer and tireless peacemaker whose legacy endures in the institutions and peace processes he strengthened.
  • South African President Cyril Ramaphosa mourned a distinguished diplomat who applied legal acumen and integrity to the country’s constitution and to international peace efforts.
  • Recent remembrances from the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the ANC, and UN bodies highlighted his service as Mandela’s chief legal adviser and his leadership of UN missions, most recently as head of UNMISS.