The government has decided to hold a three-day national mourning on the demise of Nelson Mandela, the first black president of South Africa and an anti-apartheid leader. The cabinet meeting held last Saturday decided to fly the national flag at half-mast at government and diplomatic missions abroad and not to hold any official ceremonies for three days starting from Sunday. The government has also expressed condolence to the family of Mandela and to the people of South Africa.

 

Similarly, the cabinet meeting has also decided to send a delegation led by Foreign Minister Madhav Prasad Ghimire to attend Mandela’s condolence assembly to be held in South Africa on December 10.

 

Mandela, who led South Africa’s transition from white-minority rule in the 1990s, died last Thursday at the age of 95. He was receiving intensive medical care at home for a lung infection after spending three months in hospital.

 

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav has also expressed profound sadness over the demise of the father of South Africa. Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala has said that he was stunned by the news of the demise of Mandela. He also wished for eternal peace to the departed soul while expressing condolences to the bereaved family and people and government of South Africa at this hour of grief in the demise of Mandela.