ALGIERS- President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, highlighted, Thursday in Algiers, the Mediterranean, Arab and African dimensions of Algeria, during the official inauguration of the new stadium of Baraki which is named after the late South African leader, Nelson Mandela.
Algeria “has entered the phase of the consecration of its membership. What we have proved by the dazzling success of the Mediterranean Games JM-2022 in Oran, “said President Tebboune to the press after the inauguration ceremony.
“The same goes for the Arab Summit which was successful and through which we have demonstrated our belonging to the Arab nation. Today and thanks to this building that bears the name of the man symbol Mandela, we affirm our African identity,” he added.
The head of state recalled the struggle led by the leader Nelson Mandela and his historical relationship with Algeria where, he said, he was trained, with his companions, by the moudjahidin of the National Liberation Army (ALN) in 1961, to prepare the revolution in South Africa and overthrow the apartheid regime.
Upon his return to his country after this training in Algeria, he was arrested and imprisoned for a long period, he said.
Upon his release from prison, Mandela “became an icon of love of freedom, emancipation and endurance,” added President Tebboune, recalling that his first visit abroad was to Algeria, where he said “I am Algerian. Algeria is my homeland. This means that I am not a refugee.
“We will not find a better symbol than Nelson Mandela to represent Algeria, South Africa and the African continent,” said Presiden Tebboune regarding the name given to the stadium.
Source: ALGERIA PRESS SERVICE