Former United States Secretary of State Colin Powell has died of Covid-19 complications.

Powell’s family announced his death in a statement on Monday, October 18, 2021.

“General Colin L. Powell, former U.S. Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, passed away this morning due to complications from Covid 19.

“We have lost a remarkable and loving husband, father, grandfather and a great American,” the family said, noting he was fully vaccinated.

He was a former top military officer who rose to become the first African-American secretary of state in 2001 under Republican President George W Bush.

Powell was 84.