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Nelson Mandela

Nobel Peace Prize

Nelson Mandela (1918-) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. He was the leader of the South African National Congress (ANC). Mandela was imprisoned 28 years for his resistance to the apartheid policy of the ruling white party.
During his imprisonment he became one of the world's greatest symbols of freedom. In innumerable demonstrations, the uncompromising demand for his release could be heard in the cry: "Free Mandela!".

Liberation movement

Nelson Mandela was born in 1918 in Transkei. Son of a tribal chief, he received his basic education at a British mission school before going on to study law and work as a lawyer.
Mandela was elected one of the leaders of the ANC at the beginning of the 1950s and it was an opponent of the non-violent approach that Mandela strengthened his position in the liberation movement. He was made leader of the organization's secret sabotage groups, but he was arrested in 1962 and later sentenced to life imprisonment for treason.

Released from prison

In its reasons for awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to Nelson Mandela, the Nobel Committee emphasized how he had demonstrated his wish for reconciliation by starting negotiations for a peaceful transition to majority rule with South Africa's president, Willem de Klerk.
Willem de Klerk had released him from prison and Mandela shared the Nobel Peace Prize with him.

President South Africa

In 1994 Nelson Mandela was elected president and until he resigned five years later, he persued a cautious reconciliatory policy. This helped to prevent South Africa from being thrown into a disastrous civil war.