President Obama will travel to South Africa to attend memorial services for Nelson Mandela, the White House announced Friday.
The South African government is organizing a series of events to mark the passing of Mandela, who continued to draw an outpouring of praise Friday for his role bringing an end to White minority rule in South Africa and as a champion or liberation and tolerance.
“President Obama and the First Lady will go to South Africa next week to pay their respects to the memory of Nelson Mandela and to participate in memorial events. We’ll have further updates on timing and logistics as they become available,” said White House press secretary Jay Carney.
Obama spoke in emotional terms at the White House Thursday as he described Mandela’s impact on his own life. But he met with family members, rather than Mandela himself, when Mandela was hospitalized during Obama’s trip to South Africa this summer.
According to the South African government, Mandela will be laid to rest at an official state funeral – which is expected to draw to dignitaries from around the globe.
Mandela will be buried in Qunu in the Eastern Cape on Dec. 15, after an official memorial service on the 10th at a stadium in Johannesburg.
His body will lie in state in Pretoria between Dec. 11 and 13.