Nelson Mandela

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be chosen 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 convict of sabotage and other charges, and sentenced to life in prison. Mandela served 27 years in prison, spends many of these years on Robben Island. Following his release from prison on 11 February 1990, Mandela led his party in the discussions that led to multi-racial democracy in 1994. As president from 1994 to 1999, he regularly gave priority to reconciliation.