World

World

Obama: Mandela left legacy of Freedom and Peace

Obama: Mandela left legacy of Freedom and Peace

President Barack Obama hailed former South African President Nelson Mandela on Thursday as a leader who left his country with a legacy of freedom and peace.

“He achieved more than could be expected of any man,” Obama said at the White House shortly after the announcement of Mandela’s death.

“Today he’s gone home, and we’ve lost one of the most influential, courageous and profoundly good human beings that any of us will share time with on this earth,” Obama said.

Watch: Obama’s remarks on Mandela’s death

Obama, the first black U.S. president, has long referred to Mandela as a personal inspiration.

“I am one of the countless millions who drew inspiration from Nelson Mandela’s life,” Obama said. “Like so many around the globe, I cannot fully imagine my own life without the example that Nelson Mandela set, and so long as I live I will do what I can to learn from him.”

Obama noted his own first involvement in anything political was a protest against apartheid, the system of white rule in South Africa.

“To the people of South Africa, we draw strength from the example of renewal, and reconciliation, and resilience that you made real,” Obama said. “A free South Africa at peace with itself – that’s an example to the world, and that’s Madiba’s legacy to the nation he loved,” he said, referring to Mandela by his clan name.

Obama is expected to go to South Africa for Mandela’s funeral. The U.S. president went to Johannesburg earlier this year but did not visit the ailing leader, who was in the hospital at the time.

“We will not likely see the likes of Nelson Mandela again,” Obama said. “So it falls to us as best we can to forward the example that he set: to make decisions guided not by hate, but by love; to never discount the difference that one person can make; to strive for a future that is worthy of his sacrifice.” DM

Photo: U.S. President Barack Obama makes remarks on the passing of former South African President and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Nelson Mandela at the age of 95, at the White House in Washington, December 5, 2013. REUTERS/Mike Theiler

Gallery

Please peer review 3 community comments before your comment can be posted

We would like our readers to start paying for Daily Maverick...

…but we are not going to force you to. Over 10 million users come to us each month for the news. We have not put it behind a paywall because the truth should not be a luxury.

Instead we ask our readers who can afford to contribute, even a small amount each month, to do so.

If you appreciate it and want to see us keep going then please consider contributing whatever you can.

Support Daily Maverick→
Payment options

Become a Maverick Insider

This could have been a paywall

On another site this would have been a paywall. Maverick Insider keeps our content free for all.

Become an Insider

Every seed of hope will one day sprout.

South African citizens throughout the country are standing up for our human rights. Stay informed, connected and inspired by our weekly FREE Maverick Citizen newsletter.