This week marks a series of historic turning points, from Nelson Mandela's release after 27 years in prison to East Germany's imminent collapse. In South Africa, Mandela walked free on 11 February 1990, after more than 10,000 days behind bars. The Independent described the scene: 'the myth finally made man, walked out of prison with a smile on his face, but iron in his soul'. Addressing jubilant crowds, Mandela said the struggle must continue as talks toward reform began. Within four years, South Africa held its first democratic elections and Mandela was elected president.
In Germany, West German officials warned that East Germany faced economic and political collapse, with advisers to Chancellor Helmut Kohl saying the crisis 'cannot be exaggerated' and that the state could become insolvent within days. The alarm came ahead of urgent talks in Moscow with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Within months, negotiations accelerated and Germany was formally reunified in October 1990.
Nato moved towards military action for the first time as Bosnian Serb forces defied an ultimatum to halt shelling around Sarajevo. Western governments warned the conflict could escalate into open war. The crisis unfolded under a UN mandate but without backing from Russia or China. Within weeks, Nato carried out limited air strikes, marking a turning point in international intervention in the Bosnian war.
In Northern Ireland, the IRA offered a new proposal to put weapons 'beyond use' following the suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly. The government described it as a development of real significance but still short of a clear commitment to disarm. Full decommissioning was eventually completed in 2005 under international supervision.
Across the Middle East, Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini issued a death sentence against novelist Salman Rushdie over The Satanic Verses, forcing him into hiding. In Egypt, President Mubarak resigned after 18 days of mass demonstrations, ending three decades in power. The uprising formed part of the wider Arab Spring protests.
In South Africa, Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius appeared in court accused of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. The athlete denied intent, saying he believed he was confronting an intruder. After a series of trials and appeals, he was ultimately convicted of murder.
