As Cuba prepares for the funeral of its former president Fidel Castro, many world leaders have decided not to attend the ceremony on Sunday.
Castro continues to be a divisive figure even in death, with leaders and politicians around the globe denouncing him as a ruthless dictator, while others praise his revolutionary legacy.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau drew widespread condemnation and ridicule for calling Castro a “remarkable leader” and “legendary revolutionary.” His office has since announced that he won’t be travelling to Havana on Sunday, even though Castro and Trudeau’s father, former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, had a close relationship. Castro even served as an honorary pallbearer at the elder Trudeau’s funeral in 2000.
Just days ahead of Castro’s funeral, many Western leaders have also declined to attend, but most countries are still sending delegations.
It’s still not clear whether Chinese President Xi Jinping will be heading to Havana. And even though it doesn’t appear that a formal announcement has been made, the BBC is reporting that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will appear at the funeral.
Here’s what notable dignitaries have decided so far:
Not going
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
U.S. President Barack Obama
U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May
Russian President Vladimir Putin
French President Francois Hollande
German Chancellor Angela Merkel
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
Going
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro
Mexican president Enrique Pena Nieto
Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa
Bolivian President Evo Morales
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras
South African President Jacob Zuma
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe
