[ ::: ♥Keep_Mailing♥ ::: ]™ FULL LIST OF FOREIGN DIGNITARIES AT MANDELA'S MEMORIAL

A Who's Who of world leaders: The incredible list of guests who took their seats at Nelson Mandela's memorial service

• Representing the U.S., President Barack Obama made address
  
• Former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter were also there
  
• Former British Prime Minister has arrived in Johannesburg
• Musicians Bono, Annie Lennox and Peter Gabriel were expected
  
• Sir Richard Branson and supermodel Naomi Campbell invited

 

The global list of the great and good attending today's memorial event for Nelson Mandela in South Africa reads like a Who's Who of world leaders in politics, business, music and fashion.

As tens of thousands of South Africans converged in sorrow, celebration and pride on Soweto's World Cup stadium, they found themselves taking their seats side-by-side with presidents, priests and queens at a memorial service for the global icon.

Representing the U.S., President Barack Obama has flown in for the day of remembrance and celebration for the anti-apartheid icon who died last week at age 95.

Air Force One touched down at a military base near Johannesburg on a rainy morning.

Side-by-side: Scores of VIPs and dignitaries watch from the tribune as rain lashes down during the memorial service for former South African president Nelson Mandela

U.S. President Barack Obama (centre) shares a moment with Denmark's Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt (left) as his wife, first lady Michelle Obama looks on (right)

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy (bottom left) and his successor Francois Hollande (bottom right)

Nelson Mandela's widow Graca Machel, right, and his former wife Winnie Madikizela Mandela, left, sit on stage

 

British Prime Minister David Cameron, top centre, attends the memorial

 

Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, centre, and German President Joachim Gauck, top right, take their seats

 

Joining Obama on the 16-hour trip from Washington was first lady Michelle Obama, former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter were also scheduled to attend the memorial service, but traveled to South Africa separately.

 

 

French President Francois Hollande and his predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy will attend as will the German President Joachim Gauck.

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and Cuban President Raul Castro were also pictured arriving at the stadium.

 

Naomi Campbell, Bono and Charlize Theron at Mandela memorial

 

The President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas accepted the invitation, but Israel's top leaders were conspicuous by their absence.

Israel announced neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor President Shimon Peres will attend the event citing costs and health reasons.

Tycoon Sir Richard Branson, supermodel Naomi Campbell and musicians Bono, Annie Lennox and Peter Gabriel are among those expected at the memorial service.

Sir Richard and singer Peter Gabriel devised 'The Elders' forum of statesmen and activists set up by Mr Mandela.

 

VIDEO: Nelson Mandela's grandchildren's moving tribute

French President Francois Hollande (left) is greeted by officials on his arrival at Air Force Base Waterkloof, Pretoria

A screen shows South African former president Nelson Mandela during his memorial service

 

President Barack Obama (left) and first lady Michelle Obama (right) arrive at Waterkloof Air Base for the memorial service in honor of former South African leader Nelson Mandela

 

 

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and wife of Zimbabwe's President Grace Mugabe (centre) arrive at Waterkloof Airforce Base in Pretoria

THE ORDER OF SERVICE FOR MANDELA'S MEMORIAL

National Anthem: Mass Choir
Welcome and Opening Remarks: Programme Directors
Tribute by Family Friend: Andrew Mlangeni
Tribute by Family: General Thanduxolo Mandela
Tribute by the Grandchildren: Mbuso Mandela
Andile Mandela
Zozuko Dlamini
Phumla Mandela
Tribute by UN Representative: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Tribute by AU Commission Chair: Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma
Tribute by Foreign Dignitaries: President Barack Obama (USA)
President Dilma Rousseff (Brazil)
Vice-President Li Yuanchao (China)
President Hifikepunye Pohamba (Namibia)
President Pranab Mukherjee (India)
President Raúl Castro Ruz (Cuba)
Keynote Address by the President of the Republic of South Africa:
His Excellency Jacob Zuma
Sermon: Bishop Ivan Abrahams
Vote of Thanks: Premier of Gauteng, Nomvula Mokonyane 

U2 singer and activist Bono, 53, said the anti-apartheid icon had inspired him to campaign against Aids and world poverty.

He took his seat next to South African actress Charlize Theron.

Miss Campbell, 43, who Mr Mandela described as his 'honorary granddaughter', has helped raise money for the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund and his former political party the African National Congress.

Grammy-award winning artist Annie Lennox, 58, has a long association with Mr Mandela after performing at his 70th birthday concert in 1988.

U.S. talk show host Oprah Winfrey will also be there.

Three previous British Prime Ministers - Sir John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown - are to join current PM David Cameron at the official memorial ceremony.

Also at the national memorial service in Johannesburg's FNB Stadium are Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Leader of the Opposition Ed Miliband.

It is thought to be the first time for many years that all of the UK's surviving prime ministers have travelled to an event abroad, and reflects the deep respect in which Mr Mandela is held within British politics.

Mr Obama will lead the tributes along with United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon.

 

 

 

 

Not attending: Russia's President Vladimir Putin signs the book of condolence as he visits the South Africa's embassy in Moscow

 

Russia's President Vladimir Putin, who is not attending, described Mandela as a 'great humanist' as he signed a book of condolence at the South African embassy in Moscow.

Having signed the book, Putin bowed his head in front of Mandela's portrait and offered condolences to South African Ambassador Mandisi Mpahlwa.

At the funeral on Sunday, political guests will include Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kohout – who is representing his country in place of its prime minister Jiri Rusnok.

Mr Rusnok was forced to apologise after he was recorded saying: 'The idea of going gives me the shivers.'

South African President Jacob Zuma will give the keynote address and former South African President F.W. de Klerk will play a major part.

Mr Mandela's family and friends also will speak at the ceremony, which will include a sermon.

FULL LIST OF FOREIGN DIGNITARIES AT MANDELA'S MEMORIAL

- Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
- Angolan Vice President Manuel Vincent.
- Argentinian Acting President Amado Boudou.
- Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
- Bahamas' Prime Minister Perry Christie.
- Bangladesh's President Abdul Hamid.
- Belgian Prime Minister Elio di Rupo and King Philippe.
- Benin's President Boni Yayi.
- Botswana's President Seretse Ian Khama.
- Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and three predecessors, including Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
- British Prime Minister David Cameron, deputy PM Nick Clegg and former Prime Minister Tony Blair.
- Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza.
- Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and three of his predecessors.
- Chadian President Idriss Deby.
- Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao.
- Comoros' President Ikiliou Dhoinine.
- Congo's President Joseph Kabila.
- Croatian President Ivo Josipovic.
- Cuban President Raul Castro.
- Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kohout.
- Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt and Prince Frederik.
- Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh.
- East Timor's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao.
- El Salvador's Foreign Minister Jaime Miranda.
- Equatorial Guinea's President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
- Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.
- European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.
- European Union Council President Herman Van Rompuy.
- Finnish President Sauli Niinisto.
- French President Francois Hollande and his predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy.
- Gabon's President Ali Bongo Ondimba.
- Gambian President Yahya Jammeh.
- German President Joachim Gauck.
- Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama.
- Guinean President Alpha Conde.
- Guyana's President Donald Ramotar.
- Haitian President Michel Martelly and Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe.
- Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Congress party leader Sonia Ghandi.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
- Irish President Michael Higgins.
- Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta.
- Ivory Coast's President Allasane Ouattara.
- Jamaica's Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller.
- Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito and former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.
- Jordanian Queen Rania and Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour.
- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.
- Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
- Lesotho's Prime Minister Thomas Thabane.
- Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
- Malawi's President Joyce Banda.
- Malaysian Energy Minister Maximus Ongkili.
- Mauritius' Prime Minister Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.
- Mexican President Pena Nieto.
- Morocco's Prince Moulay Rachid.
- Mozambique's President Armando Emilio Guebuza.
- Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba.
- Nepalese Foreign Minister Madhav Prassad Ghimire.
- The Netherlands' Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans and King Willem-Alexander.
- Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou.
- Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.
- Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg and Crown Prince Haakon.
- Pakistan's President Mamnoon Hussain.
- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
- Philippines' Vice President Jejomar Binay.
- Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski and former President Lech Walesa.
- Portuguese President Cavaco Silva.
- Saudi-Arabia's Deputy Prime Minister Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
- Senegalese President Macky Sall.
- Serbian President Tomislav Nicolic.
- Seychelles President James Michel.
- Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak.
- Slovenia's President Borut Pahor.
- South Korean Prime Minister Hongwon Chung.
- South Sudan's President Salva Kir Mayardi.
- Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and Prince Felipe.
- Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
- Sudanese Vice President Bakri Hassan Salih.
- Suriname's President Desire Delan Bouterse.
- Swaziland's Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini.
- Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and Princess Victoria.
- Swiss President Ulrich Maurer.
- Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete.
- Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
- Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki.
- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
- U.N. Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay.
- U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and his predecessor Kofi Annan.
- U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama as well as former presidents George W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary.
- Uruguay's Foreign Minister Luis Almagro.
- Vatican official Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana.
- Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro.
- Zambia's President Michael Sata.
- Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Hiten@HitenRaja.com

 

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
Nelson Mandela

 

 

 

If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.
Nelson Mandela

 

 

 

After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.
Nelson Mandela

 

 

 

 

 

If the United States of America or Britain is having elections, they don't ask for observers from Africa or from Asia. But when we have elections, they want observers.
Nelson Mandela

 

 

 

Money won't create success, the freedom to make it will.
Nelson Mandela