On April 27, 1994, Nelson Mandela was elected President of South Africa in the country's first fully democratic election, marking the end of decades of apartheid — the system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination. Mandela had spent 27 years in prison for his anti-apartheid activism, much of it on Robben Island. Rather than seeking retribution, he championed reconciliation, establishing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address the injustices of the past without descending into civil war. His presidency (1994–1999) and his personal example of forgiveness made him one of the most admired figures of the 20th century.
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