Nelson Mandela (1918-2013), the first black president of South Africa, was a forceful anti-apartheid activist and member of the ANC (African National Congress), a black-liberation group. He was arrested in December 1956 with 100 other activists on charges of treason. Mandela went on trial that same year and eventually was acquitted in 1961.
In 1962, Mandela went to Algeria for training in guerrilla warfare and sabotage, returning to his country later that year, where he was arrested again and sentenced to five years in prison.
On June 12, 1964, he was sentenced to life imprisonment, tried for sabotage, treason and violent conspiracy.
In prison, Mandela became a national and international symbol for fighting against social injustice, apartheid and violation of human rights. He brought hope to South Africa's black population for a nonracial democracy, free from apartheid.
On Feb. 11, 1990, mainly because of popular support, the South African government released Mandela.
In April 1994, Mandela won South Africa's first elections by universal suffrage.
