THE ELDERS
By AI Chat.-Human Synthesis-05 October 2026
The Elders is an independent international group of senior statesmen, former presidents, diplomats and human-rights leaders. It is not an organ of the United Nations, although it often works alongside the UN and other international organisations.
Who created it?
The group was founded by Nelson Mandela in 2007, on his 89th birthday. The original idea came from entrepreneur Richard Branson and musician Peter Gabriel, who approached Mandela about creating a group of respected people who could help with difficult international problems.
Among the original members were:
- Nelson Mandela
- Desmond Tutu
- Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-General
- Jimmy Carter, former US President
- Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland
- Graça Machel
- Muhammad Yunus
- Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway
Mandela's idea was that these people could speak independently, without having to worry about elections, governments or political careers.
What do they actually do?
They have no power to order governments or the UN to do anything.
Instead, they use their reputation and diplomatic experience to:
- mediate or encourage negotiations in conflicts;
- speak publicly about human rights;
- encourage peace agreements;
- advise political leaders privately;
- campaign on nuclear weapons, climate, equality and other international issues.
They have been involved in discussions concerning places including Israel/Palestine, Sudan, South Sudan, Cyprus, Myanmar, Zimbabwe and the Korean Peninsula.
Why the connection with the UN can be confusing
Several Elders have been very senior UN figures. For example, Kofi Annan was UN Secretary-General, and Ban Ki-moon has also served as an Elder. Gro Harlem Brundtland was Director-General of the WHO. But their membership in The Elders is separate from their former UN positions.
So, in simple terms:
UN = an intergovernmental organisation whose members are countries.
The Elders = an independent NGO/group of influential individuals.
The Elders can influence international debate, but they cannot make UN decisions, command UN forces, impose sanctions, or make laws.
One interesting point, especially given your earlier questions about the UN: Mandela deliberately wanted The Elders to be independent of governments and political institutions, rather than another branch of the UN.
EDITORIAL NOTES.
GRO Harlem Brundtland illegally got Norway into the EOS and put Synoeve Taftoe in asylum for 30 years for disagreing. She should be expelled from The Elders in shame and given a taste of Synnoeve Taftoes suffering.
SYNNØVE FJELLBAKK TAFTØ THE WOMAN WHO WARNED NORWAY, WAS LOCKED AWAY.
