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Scores of World Leaders to Attend Mandela Memorial Scores of World Leaders to Attend Mandela Memorial
(35 minutes later)
JOHANNESBURG — South African authorities prepared Monday to receive scores of visiting dignitaries — and tens of thousands of their own people — at a national memorial for Nelson Mandela on Tuesday in the World Cup soccer stadium where he made his last public appearance in 2010. JOHANNESBURG — The South African authorities scrambled on Monday to deal with the logistical, security and protocol complexities of hosting scores of visiting dignitaries – and tens of thousands of their own people – at a national memorial for Nelson Mandela on Tuesday in the World Cup soccer stadium where he made his last public appearance in 2010.
As members of Parliament gathered in Cape Town to honor the former leader, adding to the tributes and praise since Mr. Mandela’s death on Thursday, officials said the dignitaries would include President Obama along with the former presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter. “The world literally is coming to South Africa,” said Clayson Monyela, the head of public diplomacy in the South African government. “I don’t think it has ever happened before.”
As members of Parliament gathered in Cape Town to honor the former leader, adding to the tributes and praise since Mr. Mandela’s death on Thursday, officials said the visitors from overseas would include President Obama along with the former presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.
The White House said Saturday that President Obama and the first lady, Michelle Obama, would attend the memorial service. Mr. Bush and his wife, Laura, along with Mr. Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, will travel to South Africa on Air Force One as President Obama’s guests.The White House said Saturday that President Obama and the first lady, Michelle Obama, would attend the memorial service. Mr. Bush and his wife, Laura, along with Mr. Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, will travel to South Africa on Air Force One as President Obama’s guests.
Mr. Carter will attend as a member of The Elders, a group of veteran global figures sponsored by Mr. Mandela, the group said Sunday. Former President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara, will not attend. Mr. Carter will attend as a member of The Elders – a group of veteran global figures sponsored by Mr. Mandela, the group said on Sunday. Former President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara, will not attend.
Tuesday’s memorial service in the FNB Stadium will precede three days during which Mr. Mandela’s body will lie in state in the Union Buildings in Pretoria — once the seat of white power — before his burial on Sunday in his childhood village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape.Tuesday’s memorial service in the FNB Stadium will precede three days during which Mr. Mandela’s body will lie in state in the Union Buildings in Pretoria — once the seat of white power — before his burial on Sunday in his childhood village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape.
Britain’s royal family said Monday that Prince Charles would represent Queen Elizabeth II in Qunu and that Prime Minister David Cameron would attend Tuesday’s memorial service at the soccer stadium. There was no immediate confirmation of news reports that the mourners would include President Hassan Rouhani of Iran and President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. South African authorities said President François Hollande of France would also attend. Britain’s royal family said on Monday that Prince Charles would represent Queen Elizabeth II in Qunu, and Prime Minister David Cameron said he would attend Tuesday’s memorial service at the soccer stadium. There was no immediate confirmation of news reports that the mourners would include President Hassan Rouhani of Iran and President Robert G. Mugabe of Zimbabwe. South African authorities said President François Hollande of France would also attend.
Delegations from Benin, Canada, Chad, China, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya and Senegal were expected to land at Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria, the capital, on Monday. President Mamnoon Hussain of Pakistan had departed for South Africa, and a small delegation from New Zealand led by Prime Minister John Key was also on its way, according to the South African Government News Agency.Delegations from Benin, Canada, Chad, China, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya and Senegal were expected to land at Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria, the capital, on Monday. President Mamnoon Hussain of Pakistan had departed for South Africa, and a small delegation from New Zealand led by Prime Minister John Key was also on its way, according to the South African Government News Agency.
Cuban leader Raúl Castro planned to attend, the government news service said.Cuban leader Raúl Castro planned to attend, the government news service said.
“The fact that international leaders are making their way to South Africa at such short notice reflects the special place President Mandela holds in the hearts of people around the globe,” Collins Chabane, an official in the president’s office, said Sunday. “The fact that international leaders are making their way to South Africa at such short notice reflects the special place President Mandela holds in the hearts of people around the globe,” Collins Chabane, a government minister in the presidency, said on Sunday.
The choice of the FNB stadium is both pragmatic and symbolic. It lies in Soweto, the once-segregated township where riots, protests and bloodletting in 1976 helped hasten the unraveling of apartheid while Mr. Mandela was in prison. He was released in 1990, becoming South Africa’s first black president in 1994. The choice of the FNB stadium is both pragmatic and symbolic. It lies in Soweto, the onetime segregated township where riots, protests and bloodletting in 1976 helped hasten the unraveling of apartheid while Mr. Mandela was in prison. He was released in 1990 and became South Africa’s first black president in 1994.
In more practical terms, the stadium has an official capacity of more than 94,000, offering space for mourners. In his last public appearance in the final stages of the 2010 World Cup, Mr. Mandela briefly appeared at the stadium seated in a golf cart.In more practical terms, the stadium has an official capacity of more than 94,000, offering space for mourners. In his last public appearance in the final stages of the 2010 World Cup, Mr. Mandela briefly appeared at the stadium seated in a golf cart.
A more recent glimpse of him for most South Africans came in a heavily choreographed and contentious video in April showing him looking frail during a private visit by President Jacob G. Zuma and some family members. A more recent glimpse of him for most South Africans came in a heavily choreographed and controversial video in April showing him looking frail during a private visit by President Jacob G. Zuma and some family members.
South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation said Monday that around 70 heads of state and government plan to attend either the memorial on Tuesday or the state funeral on Sunday. The government said the ceremony in the FNB Stadium would rank “among the biggest gatherings of world leaders in history.” The forecast number of world leaders was similar to the tally of notables who attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005, when the presence of 70 such figures was described as an unprecedented gathering of power for a papal funeral. South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation said on Monday that around 70 heads of state and government planned to attend either the memorial on Tuesday or the state funeral on Sunday. The government said the ceremony at the FNB Stadium would rank “among the biggest gatherings of world leaders in history.” The predicted turnout was similar to the tally of notables who attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005, when the presence of 70 such figures was described as an unprecedented gathering of power for a papal funeral.
Most foreign leaders were expected to arrive in South Africa on Monday. Mr. Monyela, the department’s head of public diplomacy, said: “All organizations of the world, for example, the United Nations will be represented by the secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, the African Union by commission chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, and we have princes and princesses, kings and queens coming.”
“The world literally is coming to South Africa,” said Clayson Monyela, the head of public diplomacy. “I don’t think it has ever happened before,” he said. “All organizations of the world — for example, the United Nations will be represented by the secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, the African Union by commission chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, and we have princes and princesses, kings and queens, coming.” Most foreign leaders were expected to arrive in South Africa on Monday and would attend the national memorial gathering on Tuesday rather than the state funeral in Qunu, he added.
Most foreign guests will be attending the national memorial gathering on Tuesday rather than the state funeral in Qunu, he said. The authorities are expecting huge crowds of South Africans and have said they will set up large screens to relay the event at three overflow sports stadiums in the Johannesburg area, along with scores of large screens across the land. The police said “thousands” of officers would be on duty.
The authorities are expecting huge crowds of South Africans and have said they will set up large screens to relay the event at three overflow sports stadiums in the Johannesburg area, along with scores of large screens across the land. The police said thousands of officers would be on duty.