Security Is at the Forefront of Nelson Mandela's Memorial Service

The memorial for Nelson Mandela in Soweto, South Africa, on Dec. 10 will feature the largest gathering of international dignitaries and heads of state in recent times. The funeral arrangements for the former president are of an unprecedented scale for South Africa — which hosted the World Cup in 2010 — and are widely anticipated to equal the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005.

While sudden, Nelson Mandela's death was not entirely unexpected. His advancing years and increasingly poor health enabled the South African government to anticipate the likelihood, if not the exact date, of his death. This allowed for much of the planning for the funeral to take place in advance, which has proved critical given the logistics of providing security and protection for the biggest gathering of world leaders outside of the United Nations in years. With the attendance of U.S. President Barack Obama confirmed, the United States will play a critical role in overseeing and coordinating the assembled security apparatus.