Dear Friends,

On 18 July, we commemorate what would have been the birthday of my beloved late husband, Nelson Mandela – an occasion recognised globally as Nelson Mandela Day. This date also marks the founding of The Elders, which Madiba and I co-founded eighteen years ago.

At our launch, Madiba entrusted us with a profound mission:

“They will support courage where there is fear, foster agreement where there is conflict and inspire hope where there is despair.”

This was not merely a mandate for us – it was a call to conscience, a blueprint for principled global leadership. Today, in a world gripped by escalating conflict, deepening social unrest, unimaginable human suffering, and an accelerating climate emergency, his words ring more urgently than ever.

We are living through a moment of profound global crisis. From the blood-soaked streets of Gaza where the Israeli government has killed over 56,000 people, to the long-ignored humanitarian crisis in Sudan with over 11 million people forced from their homes, conflict and violence are destroying lives and futures – and disproportionately those of women and children.

Recent events have left the world holding its breath as the US and Israel conducted illegal strikes on Iran, upending diplomatic efforts. While a fragile ceasefire is now being observed, these actions have undermined nuclear diplomacy and risk triggering a new wave of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East and beyond.

But this misery is not confined to any one region. The damaging effects of war-mongering, stark disparities in access to education, health and wealth, as well as fractious political polarisation are touching every corner of our world. This human suffering reflects a troubling collapse of international norms and a deep failure of moral leadership. The consequences are clear: when leaders act without conscience and move unguided by a moral compass, ordinary civilians pay the highest price.

Madiba understood that real leadership is not rooted in ego, domination, or fear, but in moral courage. He shows us that servant leadership – grounded in justice, compassion and the respect for human dignity within us all – is the only form of leadership worthy of our aspiration. He reminds us that at the core of our human relations we need to centre justice, equity and the interconnectedness of our shared humanity.

As South Africa prepares to host the G20 Summit, the first African nation to assume this role, several of my fellow Elders and I will be travelling to Johannesburg and Cape Town later this month. These G20 deliberations have a singular opportunity to champion the values that Madiba embodies. I hope the spirit of Ubuntu, the African philosophy that teaches “I am because we are,” guides our leaders in this historic moment on the world stage.

But we cannot rely on governments alone. In these difficult times, each of us carries the responsibility to lead – in our communities, in our workplaces and in our families.

Fortified by Madiba’s example, we must all be everyday peacebuilders, stewards of justice, and champions of bravery.

Let us honour Nelson Mandela not only with words, but with our action. Let us choose courage over silence, empathy over indifference, and righteousness over injustice. The charge is ours to carry his legacy forward and act with unwavering resolve to deliver a more peaceful, just and prosperous future for us all.

Thank you for your continued support,

Graça Machel