Peaceful struggle against oppression Born in 1918 in a Bantu family cultivated and influential , Nelson Mandela began studying

law. Quickly aware of racial segregation against blacks in South Africa and influenced by Walter Sisulu he joined the African National Congress ( ANC) . He quickly became one of its main leaders, including the creation of the Youth League . Founder of the first black law firm in South Africa , he led nonviolent campaigns until the Sharpeville massacre in 1960. During this day of 21 March 1960 , demonstrations were held to protest against the compulsory use passport . The drama happens when the police opened fire . There are more than 60 dead. Radicalization of ideas The government had banned the ANC in the wake of tragedy , Mandela decided to continue the fight illegally and take up arms. It implements sabotage actions and general strike, in order to maintain the guerrillas. But in 1962 , he was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964. His 27 years of imprisonment on Robben Island, Pollsmoor then , never damaged his popularity .

The end of apartheid in South Africa Upon his release, he became president of the ANC and Frederik de Klerk negotiated with the fate of the country. To honor the efforts of Nelson Mandela and De Klerk to end apartheid, the two men received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. Then they agree on a multiracial government and the first presidential elections give the power Mandela. He became the first black president of South Africa 27 April 1994 . It then implements a policy of reconciliation difficult before giving way to Thabo Mbeki in 1999. After one term as president , Nelson Mandela retired from politics. But it never ceases to support the ANC. A life of service to others During the 2000s , he joined this time in the fight against poverty and AIDS scourge , long neglected in South Africa. But his health declined after a prostate cancer , it suffers from a chronic lung infection probably due to its many imprisonment. His 90th birthday in 2008 was celebrated as a national holiday .

Nelson Mandela died December 5, 2013 at the age of 95 years .