President Obama visited with the family of former South African President Nelson Mandela and gave a speech in homage to the ailing revolutionary leader on Saturday.
Though Obama was accepted with warmth by many South Africans, police continuously subdued protesters who oppose his foreign policies and wish he were more involved in Africa, reports the Globe and Mail.
This is only the President’s second visit to sub-Saharan Africa, it points out, and the first trip lasted just 20 hours.
Obama made clear his regard for the ill anti-apartheid activist despite the unrest and police sirens in the background.
“Our thoughts and those of Americans and people all around the world are with Nelson Mandela and his family,” said Obama, who calls Mandela a “personal hero,” according to Telegraph.
“Madiba’s moral courage, this country’s historic transition to a free and democratic nation has been a personal inspiration to me, and has been an inspiration to the world,” continued Obama, pictured below with South African President Jacob Zuma.
Mandela has been in a Pretoria hospital with a recurring lung infection since June 8. His condition has been described as critical but stable, and family members report that he responds to his family’s touch.
“The outpouring of love that we’ve seen in recent days shows that the triumph of Nelson Mandela and of this nation speaks to something very deep in the human spirit: the yearning for justice and dignity that transcends boundaries of race and class and faith and country,” Obama said.
Image: WikiCommons, Twitter
.jpg){kind=link}
There has been a critical error on your website.<\/p>
Learn more about debugging in WordPress.<\/a><\/p>","data":{"status":500},"additional_errors":[]}