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Nelson Mandela was famously released from prison on the 11th of February 1990. South Africa will today be celebrating the release that marks the end of Apartheid in the country.

Mandelas ex-wife Winnie will today lead the walk from the prison Victor Versen prison in Cape Town where he spent the last years of his 27 years in imprisonment. Mandela is not participating in the walk himself, but the 91 year old is expected to make an appearance at some point during the day.

You can read more on the celebrations here.

When Mandela was released from prison in 1990, after massive international pressure, he had become the most famous freedom activist in South Africa. In 1964 Mandela was sentenced to life in prison for opposing against a government that wanted to force through strict segregation laws with the use of violence. After his release he began working with the South African president F.W. Klerk, and they managed to stop the apartheid policy together.

In 1991 Mandela became the first leader of the black liberation movement African National Congress (ANC) and in 1994 he was elected as the first black president during South Africa's first democratic election. Over four decades Mandela has received more than 250 awards. The most notably was the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize. Last year the United Nations General Assembly declared Mandela's birthday 18th July is to be called "Mandela Day", to honour his contribution to world freedom.

Check out the video of Mandela's release. (LCC News is not responsible for external content)

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