Nelson Mandela: The father of a nation (Video)

One of the world's best-known fighters against inequality and oppression spent 27 years in prison for his active opposition to the apartheid racist regime in South Africa. He then rose to become the first democratic elected president in the country.

The apparent ease with which he made personal sacrifices, along with his determined struggle for racial equality, made Mandela one of the most respected statesmen in the world.

During the anti-apartid war and during his years as a national leader, he remained loyal to socialist values and defended the spin, reports “Al Jazeera”, the Periscope broadcast. He won the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize.

After living a troubled life, his end came to a quiet place in Johannesburg's home at the age of 95, surrounded by his family, Jacob Zuma reported on Thursday evening.

Life in War

Mandela spent almost three decades in prison for the fact that he had tried to overthrow the apartheid government in South Africa.

Released in 1990, he continued to play a key role in warning multiracial democracy in South Africa, becoming the country's first black president in 1994.

He resigned five years later, but did not withdraw completely.

He remained in the spotlight as South Africa's highest profile ambassador, fighting the spread of HIV/ AIDS and helping his country secure the right to host the World Football Championship in 2010.

But his old age gradually stripped him of his physical abilities, and in 2004, at the age of 85, he withdrew from public life to spend more time with his family and friends.

Its public appearances became rare. Its presentation at the 2010 World Cup closing ceremony was one of the latest and most unseen.

Personal Life

Mandela was born in 1918 in a small village in East Cape, South Africa.

Born like Rohlahla Dalibunga, a school teacher gave him his English name, Nelson. However, he was often called by his clan name, Madiba.

He joined the National African Congress in 1943 to resist the apartheid system drafted by the National White Party. He then helped form the ANC Youth League.

ANC was out of law in 1960, and Mandela acted secretly. He was arrested and charged with seeking to overthrow the government. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964.

He left as a free man only in 1990, after the South Africa government finally underwent sustained global pressure through a campaign of boycott, removal and sanctions to free him and abolish apartheid.

He married three times, first to Evelyn Masse, a partnership that ended in divorce in 1957.

He married Ainnie Madizia in 1958 but was divorced in 1992.

Then he married Graca Machel, the widow of the former president of Mozambique, on his 80th birthday.. /Periscopi/