ALGIERS – Friday, 13 January 2023 (APS) – President of the Republic Abdelmadjid Tebboune receives Thursday, in Algiers, Zwelivelile Mandela, the grandson of late South African leader Nelson Mandela.

In a statement following the audience, Zwelivelile Mandela said he is “very pleased” to participate to the inauguration of Baraki stadium, named after Nelson Mandela who “considered Algeria as his second country.”

 

“This is recognition not only to South Africa but to all Africa to name this sports facility after late Mandela. It is an honor to the Mandela family to be here in Algeria. We will continue struggling for the African causes, notably that of the people of Western Sahara, Africa’s last colony,” affirmed the grandson of late Mandela.

“We must combine our efforts so that the Sahrawi people could restore their independence and sovereignty. I talked with the President of the Republic about the strengthening of the bilateral relations with South Africa as part of the African Parliament, the African Union and the United Nations, in order to continue the work initiated by late Mandela,” he added.

Mandela’s grandson said he wishes that Algeria will succeed in organizing the African Nations Championship which will start on Friday evening with an opening match between Algeria and Libya at 8.00 p.m. at Nelson Mandela Stadium, in Baraki (Algiers).