Taiwan’s foreign ministry is mourning former President of South Africa FW de Klerk, who passed away on Thursday after being diagnosed with lung cancer.
De Klerk was the last white president of South Africa. He led the country during its democratic transition and the end of apartheid in the early 1990s.
De Klerk was also responsible for ordering the release of Nelson Mandela from prison in 1990. The two men shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry says de Klerk was a firm friend of Taiwan, making a total of nine visits to the country. De Klerk’s last visit to Taiwan came in 2018, when he attended Taiwan’s National Day celebrations.
The ministry has asked Taiwan’s representative in South Africa to extend Taiwan’s condolences to de Klerk’s family and the South African government.