Various global leaders including Barrack Obama, Abiy Ahmed, Joe Biden, Uhuru Kenyatta, Boris Johnson have paid tribute to former South Africa Archbishop Desmond Tutu who died on Sunday at the age of 90.
Born in 1931, Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu was a long-serving Anglican Church cleric and anti-apartheid campaigner who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 and was later appointed to chair his country’s post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
America’s first black President, Barrack Obama paid tribute to Desmond Tutu in a sombre statement posted on Facebook in which he described the Nobel Peace Prize laureate as his mentor and friend who was grounded in the universe struggle for justice.
“Archbishop Desmond Tutu was a mentor, a friend, and a moral compass for me and so many others. A universal spirit, Archbishop Tutu was grounded in the struggle for liberation and justice in his own country, but also concerned with injustice everywhere,” says Obama
“He never lost his impish sense of humor and willingness to find humanity in his adversaries, and Michelle and I will miss him dearly,” he adds.
South Africa President, Cyril Ramaphosa, who announced the passing of the anti-apartheid activist and global human rights campaigner, said Africa has lost an irreplaceable patriot.
“The passing of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is another chapter of bereavement in our nation’s farewell to a generation of outstanding South Africans who have bequeathed us a liberated South Africa,” said Ramaphosa
“Desmond Tutu was a patriot without equal, a leader of principle and pragmatism who gave meaning to the biblical insight that faith without works is dead”
“A man of extraordinary intellect, integrity and invincibility against the forces of apartheid, he was also tender and vulnerable in his compassion for those who had suffered oppression, injustice and violence under apartheid, and oppressed and downtrodden people around the world,” he added.
UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson said, “I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He was a critical figure in the fight against apartheid and in the struggle to create a new South Africa – and will be remembered for his spiritual leadership and irrepressible good humour.”
The 2019 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, said the deceased has been the embodiment of the struggle for liberation.
“I join other world leaders in expressing my sadness at the passing of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu who has been the embodiment of the struggle for liberation. Ethiopia sends its condolences to the people and government of South Africa,” Abiy said.
Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta said Tutu’s death is a blow to the entire African continent.
“The passing away of Archbishop Desmond Tutu is a big blow not only to the Republic of South Africa where he leaves behind huge footprints as an anti-apartheid hero but to the entire African continent where he is deeply respected and celebrated as a peacemaker,” President Kenyatta mourned the former head of the South African Anglican Church.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby described the deceased as great warrior for justice who never stopped fighting whether it was for those in his own country, for inclusivity in the South African Constitution or for those suffering injustice around the world.
“Through his distinguished work over the years as a cleric, freedom fighter and peacemaker, Archbishop Tutu inspired a generation of African leaders who embraced his non-violent approaches in the liberation struggle.”
“Arch’s love transformed the lives of politicians and priests, township dwellers and world leaders. The world is different because of this man.”
He noted that Archbishop Tutu was a prophet and priest, a man of words and action, one who embodied the hope and joy that were the foundations of his life.
“He was a man of extraordinary personal courage and bravery: when the police burst into Capetown Cathedral, he defied them by dancing down the aisle. He was a man of enormous vision – seeing the possibilities for building the Rainbow Nation long before anyone else, except perhaps President Mandela.
“His vision and bravery were allied with a canny political sense and wisdom, enabling him to be a healer and apostle of peace while so many still saw wounds and war. He was a pioneer, the first Black Archbishop of Capetown, the pioneer of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission,” said Archbishop Welby.