It was unclear whether Obama would stay through 15 December, when Mandela receives a state burial at his boyhood home of Qunu.
The memorial service, at Johannesburg’s 94,000-seat soccer stadium, comes ahead of the funeral, which will see a cortege with Mandela’s coffin pass through the streets of Pretoria on three consecutive days.
Presidents, religious leaders and cultural figureheads from all corners of the world are expected for the funeral.
‘The president and Mrs Obama will be attending the national memorial service for former president Mandela on Tuesday in Johannesburg,’ the official said, adding that further details would be provided later.
The White House has indicated that former first couple George W. and Laura Bush will accompany the Obamas on the presidential plane Air Force One.
Ex-president Bill Clinton, who was in office when Mandela took power to become South Africa’s first black president, also said that he would be making the trip with his family. The White House invitation was extended to Bush’s father former president George H.W. Bush as well, but the 89-year-old declined since he can no longer travel long distances.
The memorial service, at Johannesburg’s 94,000-seat soccer stadium, comes ahead of the funeral, which will see a cortege with Mandela’s coffin pass through the streets of Pretoria on three consecutive days.
Presidents, religious leaders and cultural figureheads from all corners of the world are expected for the funeral.
‘The president and Mrs Obama will be attending the national memorial service for former president Mandela on Tuesday in Johannesburg,’ the official said, adding that further details would be provided later.
The White House has indicated that former first couple George W. and Laura Bush will accompany the Obamas on the presidential plane Air Force One.
Ex-president Bill Clinton, who was in office when Mandela took power to become South Africa’s first black president, also said that he would be making the trip with his family. The White House invitation was extended to Bush’s father former president George H.W. Bush as well, but the 89-year-old declined since he can no longer travel long distances.