Nelson Mandela

Author: Liu Zongqin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2008-03-01
Features: Nelson Mandela (1918-) is a leader of the African national movement, born in Mvezo Village, Transkei, South Africa. Originally a lawyer, he joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1944. Over the next 20 years, he led the movement against the South African government and its apartheid policies, and launched a three-day nationwide strike in 1961. In 1964, the South African government sentenced him to life in prison for treason, but he remained a powerful symbol of the black liberation movement. In the 1980s, the world united in demanding his release. His wife, Winnie, also faced frequent restrictions on her personal freedom. In 1990, President F.W. de Klerk lifted the ban on the ANC, abolished restrictions on political parties, and suspended his sentence. Mandela was released soon after. He immediately called on foreign governments not to ease pressure on the South African government to promote constitutional reforms. In 1991, he was elected as the president of the ANC. In 1992, he separated from Winnie, and in 1993, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize alongside F.W. de Klerk for their efforts to eliminate apartheid. In 1994, South Africa held its first democratic election, and on May 9, Mandela was elected as president. To end the history of racial segregation between whites and blacks, Mandela fought his entire life to achieve his goals with the least bloodshed. With all minority groups enjoying equal rights, South Africa set an example for other parts of the world.