The series is dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 65th birthday of the Institute for African Studies and to the 30th anniversary since first democratic elections held in SA.

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📆 Today let us go back to a historical visit of President Nelson Mandela to Russia in 1999

The 80-year-old South African leader arrived in Moscow on 28 April with his ministers as well as with high-level businessmen, officials and scientists. It was the first state visit to Russia by the president of a democratic South Africa.

President Mandela and his Russian counterpart President Boris Yeltsin signed a Declaration on the Principles of Friendly Relations and Partnership and several other bilateral agreements.

❗️Both presidents condemned the NATO aggression against Yugoslavia and confirmed their commitment to a multipolar world.

🤝 Apart from expanding cooperation with Russia, President Mandela wanted to pay tribute to the help that the people of the Soviet Union had provided to the anti-apartheid movement. At the banquet in the Kremlin President Mandela said:

“It was from here that many of our most valiant fighters drew inspiration and the hope of a more humane future. It was here that our leader, the late President Oliver Tambo, sought assistance and found it without conditions, at a time when it was neither fashionable to provide it nor dictated by any narrow interest. …. For helping to liberate all the people of South Africa from an inhuman system, we say from the bottom of our heart: “Spasibo bolshoye [Thank you very much]!”

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The materials provided by the Center for Southern Africa Studies of the Institute for African Studies (https://www.inafran.ru/en/).