February 1990

Friday 02:

Apartheid: In South Africa President F.W. de Klerk allows the African National Congress to legally function again and promises to set Nelson Mandela free.

Wednesday 07:

Collapse of the Soviet Union: The Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party agrees to give up its monopoly of power.

Saturday 10:

South African President F.W. de Klerk announces that Nelson Mandela would be released the next day.

Sunday 11:

Nelson Mandela, a political prisoner for 27 years, is freed from Victor Verster prison outside Cape Town, South Africa.

Tuesday 13:

German reunification: An agreement is reached for a two-stage plan to reunite Germany.

Monday 26:

The Sandinistas are defeated in Nicaraguan elections.

Tuesday 27:

Exxon Valdez oil spill: Exxon and its shipping company are indicted on five criminal counts.