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1990 Released from prison
After having served 27 years of his life sentence in prison, Mandela is released on the 11th of February, 1990. Upon his release, the entire world watched as he held a speech on the Cape Town city hall stairs where he clearly announced that the fight against apartheid was far from over.
I greet you all in the name of peace. Democracy and freedom for all -Nelson Mandela
Mandela starts negotiations to end apartheid together with then President F.K. de Klerk, which finally results in multi-racial political elections in 1994.
1993 Nobel Peace Prize
Together with Frederik Willem de Klerk, Mandela is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on the 15th of October, 1993 “for their work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime, and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa”.
You can watch the video of the award ceremony on nobelprize.org.
1994 President Mandela
Nelson Mandela wins the 1994 presidency elections with a 62% majority with the ANC party and holds office for a single term by choice until 1999. There was still a lot of institutionalized racism so his presidency got a main focus on dismantling all apartheid factors in South Africa.
2013 Death of Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela dies of natural causes at the age of 95 on December 5, 2013. In a life of defiance, struggle and finally peace and respect, Mandela received the following national merits:
- South Africa: Order of Mapungubwe – Platinum Category (December 2002)
- India: Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian order (1990)
- Angola: Dr António Agostinho Neto Order (12 May 1990)
- Australia: Honorary Companion of the Order of Australia (9 June 1999)
- Canada: Honorary Companion of the Order of Canada (24 September 1998)
- Commonwealth of Nations: Honorary member of the Order of Merit (1995)
- Commonwealth of Nations: Bailiff Grand Cross of The Order of St John (2004)
- Denmark : Knight of the Order of the Elephant (18 February 1996)
- Luxembourg: Knight of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau (10 March 1999)
- Mali: Grand Cross of the National Order of Mali (3 March 1996)
- Mexico: Order of the Aztec Eagle (11 June 2010)
- Norway: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of St Olav (1998)
- Sweden: Knight of the Royal Swedish Order of the Seraphim (3 March 1997)
- Ukraine: First Class of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (5 May 1999)
- United States: Presidential Medal of Freedom (9 July 2002)
- USSR: Order of Lenin (1990)