Congratulating Barack Obama on his
inauguration as the first black president of the United States Tuesday, iconic
former South African president Nelson Mandela said the historic event reminded
him of the excitement that surrounded his own election as his country's first
democratically-elected president, dpa
reported.
In a letter handed to Obama shortly before his inauguration on Tuesday,
anti-apartheid hero Mandela, 90, said: "There is a special excitement on
our continent today, Mister President, in the knowledge that you have such
strong personal ties with Africa, we share in that excitement and pride."
"You will always be in our affection as a young man who dared to dream and
to pursue that dream."
Lamenting the sense of hopelessness that gripped many parts of the world in the
face of conflict and persistent injustice, Mandela praised Obama for bringing
"a new voice of hope."
Obama's inauguration reminded him of his own emotional swearing-in as South Africa's first post-apartheid president in 1994 after spending 27 years in jail for
resisting prejudice.
"People, not only in our country, but around the world, were inspired to
believe that through common human effort, injustice can be overcome and that
together a better life for all can be achieved," he said.
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