NELSON MANDELA

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (1918-) served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African President to be elected in a fully representative democratic election.  Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC).  In 1962, he was arrested and convicted of sabotage and other charges, and sentenced to life in prison.  Mandela served 27 years in prison, spending many of these years on Robben Island.  Following his release from prison on 11 February 1990, Mandela led his party in the negotiations that led to multi-racial democracy in 1994.  As President, he frequently gave priority to reconciliation, while introducing policies aimed at combating poverty and inequality in South Africa.  In South Africa, Mandela is also known as Mandiba, his Xhosa clan name.  Mandela has received more than 250 awards over four decades, including the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize.