‘He belongs to the ages.’ The world reacts to the death of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first black president. Former U.S. President Formed U.K. Prime Minister In the island nation of Haiti, In Washington, the first Jimmy Carter, who fought for Tony Blair praised Nelson which became the world’s first African-American president of human rights around the globe Mandela as a “unique political black republic in 1804 through the United States, during his administration, figure” in history. a successful slave revolt, Barack Obama, declared the said he and wife Rosalyn were “Through his leadership, Prime Minister world has lost an influential, saddened by the death of the he guided the world into a Laurent Lamothe said Man- courageous and ‘profoundly anti-apartheid icon. new era of politics in which dela won’t be forgotten. good’ man with the death of “The people of South Africa black and white, developing “The world has lost a great the anti-apartheid icon. and human rights advocates and developed, north and leader and an inspiration to Obama said Mandela “no around the world have lost a south, despite all the huge humanity today,” Lamothe longer belongs to us. He be- great leader. His passion for differences in wealth and said in an email. “We wish the longs to the ages.” freedom and justice created opportunity, stood for the first people of South Africa and in new hope for generations of time together on equal terms,” particular President Mandela’s oppressed people worldwide, Blair said. “Through his dignity, family our deepest and sincer- and because of him, South Af- grace and the quality of his est condolences — Haiti rica is today one of the world’s forgiveness, he made racism will never forget this leading democracies,” Carter everywhere not just immoral great leader.” said in a statement released but stupid; something not only by the Atlanta-based Carter to be disagreed with, but to be Center. despised.” Nelson Mandela: 1918-2013

Five key moments in Mandela’s life April 20, 1964 Feb. 11, 1990 May 10, 1994 June 24, 1995 July 11, 2010 Charged with sabotage, Mandela Mandela walked out of South Nelson Mandela became the first Mandela strode onto the field at A smiling Mandela waved to the delivered a statement during Africa’s Victor Verster prison black president of South the Rugby World Cup final crowd at the Soccer City his trial in Pretoria that near Cape Town after 27 Africa after democratic in Johannesburg, wearing stadium at the closing cer- 1 revealed the depth of his 2 years in captivity, holding 3 elections, taking the oath 4 South African colors and 5 emony of the World Cup, resolve in the fight against hands with his wife, Winnie. of office at the Union bringing the overwhelm- whose staging in South apartheid and his willingness He held up his fist and smiled Buildings in Pretoria, the South ingly white crowd of more than Africa allowed the country, and to lay down his life in an effort to broadly. Mandela’s release after so African capital. Leaders and other 60,000 to its feet. They chanted the continent, to shine on one of end white racist rule. long was almost inconceivable for dignitaries from around the world “Nelson! Nelson! Nelson!” as the the world’s biggest stages. Mandela “During my lifetime I have dedi- deliriously happy supporters who attended the historic occasion, president congratulated the victori- appeared frail as he was driven in a cated myself to this struggle of the erupted in cheers as hundreds of which offered many South Africans ous home team in a moment that golf cart alongside his wife, Graca African people,” Mandela said. “I journalists pressed forward. The another chance to celebrate in the symbolized racial reconciliation. Machel. have fought against white domi- world watched the electrifying oc- streets. Mandela’s decision to wear the Mandela had kept a low profile nation, and I have fought against casion live on television. Because of At the close of his inauguration Springbok emblem, the symbol during the month-long tournament, black domination. I have cherished Mandela’s decades-long confine- speech, Mandela said: once hated by blacks, conveyed deciding against attending the the ideal of a democratic and free ment, few people knew what he “Never, never and never again the message that rugby, for so long opener June 11 after the death of society in which all persons live looked like or had seen a recent shall it be that this beautiful land shunned by the black population, his great-grand daughter in a traffic together in harmony and with equal photograph. Mandela said he was will again experience the oppres- was now for all South Africans. accident following a World Cup opportunities. It is an ideal which I astounded by the reception. sion of one by another and suffer The moment was portrayed in concert. hope to live for and to achieve. But “When I was among the crowd I the indignity of being the skunk of “Invictus,” a Hollywood movie The former president did not ad- if needs be, it is an ideal for which I raised my right fist, and there was a the world,” he said. “Let freedom directed by Clint Eastwood. The dress the crowd on that emotional am prepared to die.” roar. I had not been able to do that reign. The sun shall never set on film tells the story of South Africa’s day in the stadium. It was his last Two months later, he and seven for 27 years and it gave me a surge so glorious a human achievement! transformation under Mandela’s public appearance. other defendants were sentenced of strength and joy,” Mandela wrote. God bless Africa! Thank you.” leadership through the prism of to life in prison. sport. Photos & Timeline by The Associated Press