Mandela memorial: World leaders and dignitaries

 

World leaders and public figures from around the world descended on FNB Stadium just outside Johannesburg to pay their respects to South Africa's iconic anti-apartheid leader and former president Nelson Mandela.        

          

US President Barack Obama, pictured greeting Mandela's widow Graça Machel, spoke to the cheering crowds as he praised Madiba as a "giant of history".

"To the people of South Africa - people of every race and every walk of life - the world thanks you for sharing Nelson Mandela with us", he said.

Click or swipe for more pictures of world leaders, family members and notable global figures at the Nelson Mandela memorial service.
 

Barack Obama, Raul Castro & Dilma Rousseff

The memorial saw an unprecedented gesture between President Obama and his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro. The two presidents shared a handshake and briefly spoke, despite the two nations having been adversaries for over half a century.

Obama also greeted Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who has been a vocal critic of the United States' NSA surveillance programme.

George W Bush, Bill Clinton & Hillary Clinton

Obama was joined at the memorial by former US presidents George W Bush (top second left) and Bill Clinton (middle left, partially obscured).

Clinton was accompanied by his wife and Obama's former Secretary of State Hillary (centre) and daughter Chelsea (far right, partially obscured).

Another former US president, Jimmy Carter, was also in attendance.

Ban Ki-moon

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon spoke to the crowd, and said the memorial marked both a "sorrow for a mighty loss and celebration of a mighty life".

Jacob Zuma

Current South African President Jacob Zuma provided the keynote speech at the memorial, but the unpopular leader was booed by some parts of the crowd.
Zuma praised Mandela as "truly one of a kind".

Kofi Annan & Desmond Tutu

Mandela's fellow anti-apartheid figurehead and retired Anglican archbishop Desmond Tutu addressed the crowd in English, Afrikaans and several other South African dialects and said: "Now we are going to promise God that we are going to follow the example of Nelson Mandela".

Tutu, pictured with former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan (left), was critical of those in the crowd who booed Jacob Zuma.

Barack Obama & Raul Castro

Raul Castro addressed the crowd shortly after President Obama's speech, and called Mandela "the ultimate symbol of dignity and unwavering dedication to the revolutionary struggle, to freedom and justice, a prophet of unity, peace and reconciliation".

Pranab Mukherjee

India's President Pranab Mukherjee told the crowd: "Nelson Mandela was a visionary. He epitomised uncommon human ways that inspired all of mankind."

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

Mandela's ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela wipes away a tear during the service. She had remained married to him for all of his 27 years in prison.

FW de Klerk

Mandela's Nobel co-laureate, deputy president and South Africa's final apartheid-era president FW De Klerk gestures during the memorial service.

Nicolas Sarkozy & Francois Hollande

French President Francois Hollande talks to his predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy during the memorial service.

Enrique Pena Nieto

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto waves as he arrives at the service.

Tony Abbott

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott walks to his seat ahead of the memorial service.

David Cameron

British Prime Minister David Cameron speaks to the media before the service.

Stephen Harper

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper looks on ahead of the ceremony.

Crown Prince Naruhito

Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan sits in his seat ahead of the service.

Bono & Charlize Theron

U2 singer and activist Bono chats to South African Oscar-winner Charlize Theron.

Ban Ki-moon & Jacob Zuma

Ban Ki-moon and Jacob Zuma watch on from the stage.

Laura Bush, Princess Letizia & George W Bush

Princess Letizia of Spain (centre) speaks with former US first lady Laura Bush as her husband George W Bush looks on.

Nicolas Sarkozy, Francois Hollande & Hamid Karzai

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy shakes the hand of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, as current French President Francois Hollande touches his back.

Bill Clinton, John Major & George W. Bush

Former British prime minister John Major (centre) greets former US president George W. Bush while his predecessor Bill Clinton gestures.

Mary Robinson & Desmond Tutu

Former Irish president Mary Robinson shares a joke with emeritus archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Sarah Brown, Gordon Brown & George W Bush

Former British prime minister Gordon Brown (second left) and his wife Sarah (far left) stand with George W Bush.

Graça Machel

Mandela's widow Graça Machel pays her respects to her late husband at the FNB Stadium.