Namibia in Depth: A Peace Corps Publication

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Pre-colonial Namibia saw migrations of peoples from the south, central, and northeastern parts of Africa. At the time of the German conquest of Namibia in 1885, several groups of indigenous Africans were well-established throughout this vast land. Several important historical developments influenced modern Namibia:

Germany’s occupation of Namibia and indigenous resistance, notably by the Ovaherero and Nama; League of Nations and United Nations mandates for the administration of Namibia after World Wars I and II and the United Nation’s subsequent role in rejecting Namibia’s incorporation into South Africa and promoting its full independence;

South Africa’s defiance of the mandates in administering Namibia as a province and imposing apartheid on it;

Organized resistance to South African rule , including diplomatic initiatives abroad, internal political initiatives, and eventually an armed struggle, launched first from Zambia and later from Angola;

The U.N. General Assembly’s recognition of the South-West Africa People’s Organization as the legitimate representative of the Namibian people and the role of the U.N. and the Western Contact Group in working toward a peace settlement;

Angola’s achievement of independence from Portugal in 1975 and the Popular Liberation Movement of Angola’s assumption of power in Luanda, which enabled SWAPO to move its bases to southern Angola; and

Cuba’s military support of the MPLA government and subsequent alliances among Angolan, Namibian, and South African political parties.

The peace plan that was finally ratified in December 1988 paved the way for a cease-fire in April 1989, elections in November 1989, and independence on March 21, 1990. In the years since independence, Namibia has made social, political, and economic gains, promoting national unity, improving equitable access to social services, and maintaining an upward trend in economic growth. In 2005, Namibia held national elections that resulted in the democratic and orderly transfer of power to its current government of President Hifikepunye Pohamba.