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Scores of World Leaders to Attend Mandela Memorial Scores of World Leaders to Attend Mandela Memorial
(about 1 hour later)
JOHANNESBURG — From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, from Scandinavia to the Caribbean, heads of state from around the world are descending on South Africa to take part in an enormous farewell to Nelson Mandela on Tuesday, presenting the government with a security test, logistical challenge and protocol quiz all rolled into one.JOHANNESBURG — From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, from Scandinavia to the Caribbean, heads of state from around the world are descending on South Africa to take part in an enormous farewell to Nelson Mandela on Tuesday, presenting the government with a security test, logistical challenge and protocol quiz all rolled into one.
South African authorities scrambled on Monday to receive scores of visiting dignitaries — and tens of thousands of their own people — for the national memorial, which will take place in the World Cup soccer stadium where Mr. Mandela made his last public appearance, in 2010.South African authorities scrambled on Monday to receive scores of visiting dignitaries — and tens of thousands of their own people — for the national memorial, which will take place in the World Cup soccer stadium where Mr. Mandela made his last public appearance, in 2010.
“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.”“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.”
The government said the ceremony in the stadium would rank “among the biggest gatherings of world leaders in history.” It was expected to exceed the number of world leaders that attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005, which had heads of state or government from more than 70 countries, described then as an unprecedented collection of power for a papal funeral.The government said the ceremony in the stadium would rank “among the biggest gatherings of world leaders in history.” It was expected to exceed the number of world leaders that attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005, which had heads of state or government from more than 70 countries, described then as an unprecedented collection of power for a papal funeral.
“Pope John Paul’s funeral brought together 70 heads of state & 14 leaders of other regions,” Mr. Monyela said on Twitter on Monday. “We’re already over 91 & counting.”“Pope John Paul’s funeral brought together 70 heads of state & 14 leaders of other regions,” Mr. Monyela said on Twitter on Monday. “We’re already over 91 & counting.”
As workers busied themselves constructing a stage at the stadium and putting up panels of bulletproof glass to protect the visiting dignitaries, President Obama boarded Air Force One on Monday with his wife, Michelle, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md.As workers busied themselves constructing a stage at the stadium and putting up panels of bulletproof glass to protect the visiting dignitaries, President Obama boarded Air Force One on Monday with his wife, Michelle, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
Mr. Obama will be among the foreign politicians speaking at the event. But he could find a somewhat chilly reception backstage, considering that President Raúl Castro of Cuba and President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil, who has sharply rebuked the Obama administration over revelations that the National Security Agency had spied on her, are among the other speakers.Mr. Obama will be among the foreign politicians speaking at the event. But he could find a somewhat chilly reception backstage, considering that President Raúl Castro of Cuba and President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil, who has sharply rebuked the Obama administration over revelations that the National Security Agency had spied on her, are among the other speakers.
According to the official program released Monday, the memorial will begin with a choir singing South Africa’s national anthem. Four of Mr. Mandela’s grandchildren will give tributes, and South Africa’s president, Jacob Zuma, will deliver the keynote address.According to the official program released Monday, the memorial will begin with a choir singing South Africa’s national anthem. Four of Mr. Mandela’s grandchildren will give tributes, and South Africa’s president, Jacob Zuma, will deliver the keynote address.
As members of Parliament gathered in Cape Town and added to the tributes since Mr. Mandela’s death on Thursday, the South African government said that delegations from Benin, Canada, Chad, China, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya and Senegal were expected to land at Waterkloof Air Force Base near Pretoria on Monday. Others were arriving at O.R. Tambo International Airport outside Johannesburg, including the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, and his predecessor, Kofi Annan. As members of Parliament gathered in Cape Town and added to the tributes since Mr. Mandela’s death on Thursday, the South African government said that delegations from Benin, Canada, Chad, China, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya and Senegal were expected to land at Waterkloof Air Force Base near Pretoria on Monday. Others were arriving at O. R. Tambo International Airport outside Johannesburg, including the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, and his predecessor, Kofi Annan.
Former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, along with Hillary Rodham Clinton, the former secretary of state, were to travel to South Africa on Air Force One as Mr. Obama’s guests; former President Bill Clinton was to make his way to South Africa separately.Former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, along with Hillary Rodham Clinton, the former secretary of state, were to travel to South Africa on Air Force One as Mr. Obama’s guests; former President Bill Clinton was to make his way to South Africa separately.
Another former president, Jimmy Carter, will attend as a member of The Elders – a group of veteran global figures sponsored by Mr. Mandela, the group said on Sunday. The first President George Bush and his wife, Barbara, will not attend. Another former president, Jimmy Carter, will attend as a member of The Elders — a group of veteran global figures sponsored by Mr. Mandela, the group said Sunday. The elder President George Bush and his wife, Barbara, will not attend.
After Tuesday’s memorial service, Mr. Mandela’s body will lie in state for three days in the Union Buildings in Pretoria — once the seat of white power — before his burial on Sunday in his childhood village, Qunu, in the Eastern Cape. After Tuesday’s memorial service, Mr. Mandela’s body will lie in state for three days in the Union Buildings in Pretoria — once the seat of white power — before his burial on Sunday in his childhood village, Qunu, in the Eastern Cape region.
Britain’s royal family said Monday that Prince Charles would represent Queen Elizabeth II in Qunu, while Prime Minister David Cameron said he would attend Tuesday’s memorial service.Britain’s royal family said Monday that Prince Charles would represent Queen Elizabeth II in Qunu, while Prime Minister David Cameron said he would attend Tuesday’s memorial service.
South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation published a list on Monday of more than 80 countries that are sending delegations to either the memorial or the funeral “to join the people of South Africa in bidding a final farewell to the late Former President Nelson Mandela.” The South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation published a list on Monday of more than 80 countries that are sending delegations to either the memorial or the funeral “to join the people of South Africa in bidding a final farewell to the late Former President Nelson Mandela.”
Both Congos, the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo, will be represented by their presidents, as will Niger and Nigeria. Royalty will include Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg and Queen Rania of Jordan, the wife of King Abdullah, not to mention the crown princes of Denmark, Norway and Japan. The Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo will be represented by their presidents, as will Niger and Nigeria. Royalty will include Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg and Queen Rania of Jordan, the wife of King Abdullah, not to mention the crown princes of Denmark, Norway and Japan.
Representatives of the African Union, the Arab League, the Commonwealth and the European Union will be there, as will some of Mr. Mandela’s fellow Nobel Peace laureates, like Mr. Obama, Mr. Carter and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the president of Liberia.Representatives of the African Union, the Arab League, the Commonwealth and the European Union will be there, as will some of Mr. Mandela’s fellow Nobel Peace laureates, like Mr. Obama, Mr. Carter and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the president of Liberia.
President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya is coming, even though the services fall during the weeklong observation of the 50th anniversary of Kenya’s independence, with commemorations already underway in the capital of Nairobi.President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya is coming, even though the services fall during the weeklong observation of the 50th anniversary of Kenya’s independence, with commemorations already underway in the capital of Nairobi.
There will be some notable absences as well. The Dalai Lama, through a spokesman, said he would not attend. While the spokesman did not give a reason, the Dalia Lama has been unable to obtain visas to South Africa in the past, which critics say stems from the government’s unwillingness to anger China, one of its most important economic partners. There will be some notable absences as well. The Dalai Lama, through a spokesman, said he would not attend. While the spokesman did not give a reason, the Dalai Lama has been unable to obtain visas to South Africa in the past, which critics say stems from the government’s unwillingness to anger China, one of its most important economic partners.
Symbolically, the soccer stadium is in Soweto, the onetime segregated township where protests and the killing of student protesters in 1976 hastened the uproar against apartheid at a time when Mr. Mandela was in prison. He was released in 1990 and became South Africa’s first black president in 1994.Symbolically, the soccer stadium is in Soweto, the onetime segregated township where protests and the killing of student protesters in 1976 hastened the uproar against apartheid at a time when 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 soccer stadium has an official capacity of nearly 94,000, offering space for mourners. The authorities are expecting huge crowds of South Africans and have said that they will set up large screens to show the event at three sports stadiums in the Johannesburg area, along with scores of large screens across the land.In more practical terms, the soccer stadium has an official capacity of nearly 94,000, offering space for mourners. The authorities are expecting huge crowds of South Africans and have said that they will set up large screens to show the event at three sports stadiums in the Johannesburg area, along with scores of large screens across the land.