Obama on Mandela: 'He Belongs to the Ages'

US President Barack Obama hails Nelson Mandela as "an example that all humanity should aspire to." Rough Cut (no reporter narration).

Published

almost 3 years ago

Categories

US, World

Topics

United States, Africa, US Politics

People

Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela

Places

United States of America, South Africa, Johannesburg

Transcript

ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION) U.S. President Barack Obama says he was one of "countless millions who drew on" former South African President Nelson Mandela, who died Thursday evening at his home in Johannesburg. "He achieved more than could be expected of any man, and today he has gone home," Obama said. "We have lost one of the most influential, courageous and profoundly good human beings that any of us will share time with on this earth. He no longer belongs to us. He belongs to the ages." Mandela, South Africa's first black president and anti-apartheid icon, emerged from 27 years in apartheid prisons to help guide South Africa through bloodshed and turmoil to democracy. He was 95.