Zwelivelile Mandela Reflects on Algeria-South Africa Relations, Calls for Support for Palestinian, Sahrawi Causes

✏️ By: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | July 24th, 2024 — In a notable visit to the International Association of Friends of the Algerian Revolution (AIARA) at its Algiers headquarters, Zwelivelile Mandela, grandson of the iconic South African leader Nelson Mandela, elaborated on the historical connections between Algeria and South Africa. This visit, timed just before the international symposium titled “Algeria and Africa: A Shared Memory, a Common Destiny, and a Promising Future,” underscored the enduring ties between the two nations.

During the press conference, Zwelivelile Mandela commended Algeria for its unwavering support in the struggle against apartheid and its broader role in the African liberation movements. He recounted how Nelson Mandela, during his extensive travels across Africa, was advised by Ethiopian General Tadesse Birru to visit Algeria to gain insights from its national liberation experience. Mandela established significant friendships with key leaders of the Algerian National Liberation Army (ALN), including Mohamed Boudiaf, Ahmed Ben Bella, and Houari Boumediène, learning crucial strategies and tactics from them for combating apartheid.

Mandela underscored Algeria’s pivotal role in liberating several African countries, including South Africa, and stressed the importance of educating younger generations about Algeria’s substantial contributions to African liberation. He emphasized that his grandfather’s legacy is deeply intertwined with the struggles of oppressed peoples worldwide, notably in Palestine and Western Sahara. Mandela called for a concerted effort to ensure that these oppressed voices are heard globally.

On the topic of the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion and South Africa’s initiatives to hold the Zionist entity accountable, Mandela recalled his grandfather’s 1959 visit to Gaza and Nelson Mandela’s assertion that South Africa’s independence was incomplete without Palestinian liberation. He highlighted that South Africa continues to advocate for the Palestinian cause and exert pressure on governments and human rights organizations to support it.

Regarding Western Sahara, Mandela urged for a unified African effort to end Morocco’s occupation and support the independence of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). He condemned the ongoing ethnic cleansing and war crimes in Gaza and reported his recent actions, including organizing protests in Paris to prevent the Zionist delegation from participating in the upcoming Olympics.

Noureddine Djoudi, President of AIARA, emphasized the significant role played by Cherif Belkacem in establishing connections between the ALN leaders and Nelson Mandela. He also noted the deep historical and ongoing relations between Algeria and South Africa, highlighted by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s decision to name the new Baraki stadium in Algiers after Nelson Mandela, a tribute to Mandela’s enduring influence and the strong bilateral ties.

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