section européenne Lycée VINCI à AMBOISE

World mourns Nelson Mandela (8th December, 2013)

South Africans and people from all over the world are mourning the death of Nelson Mandela. In South Africa, thousands of people gathered in Johannesburg and Soweto to say goodbye to their country's first ever black president. They danced, sang, cried and prayed for the man they loved. Mr Mandela died aged 95 on Thursday after months of illness. South Africa's President Jacob Zuma broke the news of Mr Mandela's death in a late-night speech on TV. Mr Zuma said: "Our nation has lost its greatest son." Mr Mandela spent most of his life campaigning for equal rights in South Africa. He spent 27 years in jail before becoming South Africa's president in 1994.

Leaders from all over the world heaped praise on Mr Mandela. His long-time friend Archbishop Desmond Tutu said: "God was so good to us in South Africa by giving us Nelson Mandela." US President Barack Obama said: "He achieved more than could be expected of any man. Today, he has gone home." UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called him "a giant for justice and a down-to-earth human inspiration". He added: "Nelson Mandela showed what is possible for our world and within each one of us if we believe, dream and work together for justice and humanity." British Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: "Nelson Mandela was a hero of our time. A great light has gone out in the world."