Mandela, who had been undergoing months of treatment for a lung infection, was hailed as South Africa's "greatest son" by current South African President Jakob Zuma, who confirmed the anti-apartheid hero's death on Thursday night.

IN PICTURES: Mandela and Sweden

Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt praised Mandela as someone who "changed the world", while Foreign Minister Carl Bildt called him a "giant of our age".

Following his release from prison on 1990, Mandela praised Sweden for its support of the anti-apartheid struggle.

"We have come to once more thank Sweden from the bottom of our hearts for what you did – the labour movement, NGOs, churches and others, and the millions of ordinary Swedish men and women who insisted that the rights they enjoyed should be enjoyed by all people everywhere," he said in a 1999 speech to the Riksdag.

In the accompanying gallery, The Local offers a collection of images that illustrate Mandela's relationship with Sweden.