AU Commission declares three-day mourning for Mandela

Flags at the commission would be flown at half mast to honour Mandela.

The African Union Commission (AUC) has declared a three-day mourning with a special funeral service in honour of the late Nelson Mandela. The funeral service will hold on December 8 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Mr. Mandela, a former South Africa president, died on Thursday night at age 95.

The AUC’s Deputy Chairperson, Eratus Nwencha, made the announcement, when he addressed a press conference on the demise of Mandela on Friday in Addis Ababa.

Mr. Nwencha said the commission would hold the service in collaboration with the Ethiopian government and the South African Embassy in Ethiopia in honour of Mandela.

“The AU was saddened by the news of the death of Africa’s illustrious and transformational leader, Mandela, a former president of South Africa, passed away on Dec. 5, 2013.

“Today as we mourn his loss, we wish to pay tribute to his life and legacy in Africa, especially his efforts to promote democracy, freedom and equality not only in his home country South Africa, but across Africa and the world.

“Nelson Mandela will be remembered as a symbol for wisdom, for the ability to change and the power of reconciliation.’’

According to him, we celebrate his life and will work to ensure that his legacy will leave on in the work of the AU in forging toward an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa. He said Mandela’s life and legacies were the biggest lessons, motivation, inspiration and commitment an African could give to Africa.

“As a commission, we can only but draw lesson from Madiba’s life. On Peace and political stability, Mandela has shown that “We” is more important than “I”.

 

“His political life symbolises us and he brought political stability in post-apartheid South Africa through peace and reconciliation,” Mr. Nwencha said.

Flags of AU member countries at the AUC headquarters are now flying at half-mast.

Also a condolence register had been opened at the commission’s headquarters and the South African embassy in Ethiopia for messages.

The commission said it had opened a wall of remembrance on its website and encouraged Africans to deposit messages of condolences on the site.

(NAN)