Foreign relations of Namibia

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Namibia follows a largely independent foreign policy, with strong affiliations with states that aided the independence struggle, including Nigeria, Libya, and Cuba.

Contents

In Africa, Namibia has been involved in conflicts in neighbouring Angola as well as Democratic Republic of the Congo.

International organizations

Namibia is a member of 47 international organizations. These are: [1]

United Nations

Namibian ambassador to Brazil, Hopelong Ushona Ipinge (left) with President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at Palacio do Planalto, Brasilia in 2006 Hopelong Ushona Ipinge & Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.jpg
Namibian ambassador to Brazil, Hopelong Ushona Ipinge (left) with President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at Palácio do Planalto, Brasília in 2006

Namibia became the 160th member of the United Nations on 23 April 1990 upon independence. [1]

International disputes

Namibia is involved in several minor international disputes. [1]

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Namibia maintains diplomatic relations with: [2] [3]

Diplomatic relations of Namibia.svg
#CountryDate
1Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 21 March 1990
2Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 21 March 1990 [4]
3Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 21 March 1990 [5]
4Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 21 March 1990 [6]
5Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 21 March 1990
6Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 21 March 1990
7Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 21 March 1990
8Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 21 March 1990
9Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 21 March 1990 [7]
10Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi 21 March 1990
11Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 21 March 1990
12Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea 21 March 1990
13Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 21 March 1990 [8]
14Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 21 March 1990 [9]
15Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 21 March 1990
16Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 21 March 1990
17Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 21 March 1990
18Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 21 March 1990 [10]
19Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 21 March 1990 [6]
20Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 21 March 1990
21Flag of the United States.svg  United States 21 March 1990
22Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 21 March 1990 [11]
23Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 22 March 1990
24Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 22 March 1990
25Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan 22 March 1990 [12]
26Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Republic of the Congo 23 March 1990
27Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 23 March 1990 [13]
28Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 23 March 1990 [14]
29Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 27 March 1990 [15]
30Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 27 March 1990 [16]
31Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 28 March 1990
32Flag of Spain.svg  Spain March 1990 [17]
33Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom March 1990 [18]
34Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba 2 April 1990
35Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados 6 April 1990
36Flag of Lesotho.svg  Lesotho 11 April 1990 [19]
37Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela 12 April 1990
38Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 17 April 1990 [20]
39Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 18 April 1990 [21]
40Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 20 April 1990
41Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 22 April 1990
42Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 23 April 1990 [22]
43Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 28 April 1990
44Flag of Liberia.svg  Liberia 28 April 1990 [23]
45Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 30 April 1990
46Flag of France.svg  France 3 May 1990 [24]
47Flag of Libya.svg  Libya 8 May 1990 [25]
48Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 20 May 1990
49Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 6 June 1990
50Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 3 July 1990 [26]
51Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 10 July 1990 [27]
52Flag of Peru.svg  Peru 11 July 1990
53Flag of Ecuador.svg  Ecuador 12 July 1990
54Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives 25 July 1990
55Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana 26 July 1990
56Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 31 July 1990
57Flag of Albania.svg  Albania 2 August 1990
58Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 9 August 1990
59Flag of Benin.svg  Benin 13 August 1990
60Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 28 August 1990
61Flag of Angola.svg  Angola 18 September 1990 [28]
62Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 21 September 1990
63Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  Democratic Republic of the Congo October 1990 [29]
64Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg  Afghanistan 3 October 1990
65Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 5 October 1990
66Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 15 October 1990
67Flag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia 30 October 1990
68Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 6 November 1990
69Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan 8 November 1990 [30]
70Flag of Suriname.svg  Suriname 15 November 1990
71Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia 26 November 1990
72Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen 26 November 1990 [31]
73Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 10 December 1990
74Flag of India.svg  India 19 December 1990
75Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda 21 December 1990
76Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 1990 [32]
77Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia 1990 [33]
78Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania 1990 [34]
79Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 23 January 1991 [35]
80Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam 1 February 1991
Flag of Palestine.svg  State of Palestine 2 May 1991 [36]
81Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 13 May 1991 [37]
Flag of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.svg  Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic 21 May 1991
82Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 22 November 1991 [38]
83Flag of Seychelles.svg  Seychelles 9 December 1991 [39]
84Flag of Eswatini.svg  Eswatini 28 February 1992
85Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 5 October 1992 [40]
86Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 3 December 1992
87Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon 1990–1992 [41]
88Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia 1990–1992 [41]
89Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 1990–1992 [41]
90Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 1 January 1993
91Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala 19 February 1993
92Flag of Eritrea.svg  Eritrea 28 January 1994 [42]
93Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 11 February 1994
94Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 24 March 1994 [43]
95Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 8 June 1994 [44]
96Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay 13 September 1994 [45]
97Flag of Guyana.svg  Guyana 3 November 1994
98Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 9 November 1994 [46]
99Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 1 December 1994
100Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 1994 [47]
Flag of the Vatican City - 2001 version.svg  Holy See 12 September 1995 [48]
101Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 19 October 1995 [49]
102Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 17 May 1996 [50]
103Flag of Brunei.svg  Brunei 27 June 1996
104Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 22 July 1996
105Flag of Cape Verde.svg  Cape Verde 21 August 1996 [51]
106Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 16 October 1996
107Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic 7 February 1997
108Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 9 November 1997 [52]
109Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 11 April 1997 [53]
110Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh 16 July 1997 [44]
111Flag of Mauritius.svg  Mauritius 16 July 1997 [44]
112Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 22 June 1998
113Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 8 April 1999 [54]
114Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan 30 August 1999 [55]
115Flag of Kyrgyzstan (2023).svg  Kyrgyzstan 29 November 2000
116Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus 21 December 2000 [56]
117Flag of Panama.svg  Panama April 2000 [57]
118Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea 18 September 2002 [58]
119Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone 18 September 2002 [58]
120Flag of East Timor.svg  East Timor 1 October 2003
121Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 26 May 2004 [59]
122Flag of Malta.svg  Malta October 2004 [60] [61]
123Flag of Mali.svg  Mali 27 October 2004 [58]
124Flag of Madagascar.svg  Madagascar 13 July 2005 [58]
125Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 22 December 2005 [62]
126Flag of Paraguay.svg  Paraguay 17 April 2006 [63]
127Flag of Grenada.svg  Grenada 15 July 2006 [64]
128Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 2 October 2006 [65]
129Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 4 September 2007 [66]
130Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 20 September 2007 [67]
131Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas 15 May 2008 [68]
132Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 5 August 2008 [69]
Flag of the Order of St. John (various).svg  Sovereign Military Order of Malta 31 March 2009 [70]
133Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro 16 November 2009
134Flag of Burundi.svg  Burundi 23 April 2010
135Flag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia 25 June 2010
136Flag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania 29 September 2010 [71]
137Flag of Togo.svg  Togo 24 November 2010 [71]
138Flag of South Sudan.svg  South Sudan 12 July 2011 [72]
139Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea 3 August 2011 [71]
140Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia 21 December 2011
141Flag of Niger.svg  Niger 26 March 2014 [73]
142Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 23 July 2014 [74]
143Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 7 October 2014 [75]
144Flag of Haiti.svg  Haiti 24 October 2014 [76]
145Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica 12 December 2014 [77]
146Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 29 July 2015
147Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 5 November 2015
148Flag of the Central African Republic.svg  Central African Republic 21 July 2016 [78]
149Flag of Chad.svg  Chad 25 October 2016 [79]
150Flag of Djibouti.svg  Djibouti 15 May 2017 [80]
151Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 27 February 2018
152Flag of Sao Tome and Principe.svg  São Tomé and Príncipe 14 September 2018 [81]
153Flag of Monaco.svg  Monaco 12 September 2019
154Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua 16 October 2019 [82]
155Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan 17 October 2019 [83]
156Flag of Saint Lucia.svg  Saint Lucia 29 October 2019
157Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5 December 2019 [84]
158Flag of Liechtenstein.svg  Liechtenstein 22 September 2021 [85]
159Flag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros 20 October 2021 [86]
160Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg  Guinea-Bissau 8 December 2023 [87]
161Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon Unknown
162Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique Unknown
163Flag of Somalia.svg  Somalia Unknown

Bilateral relations

Africa

CountryFormal Relations BeganNotes
Flag of Angola.svg  Angola See Angola–Namibia relations

In 1999 Namibia signed a mutual defence pact with its northern neighbour Angola. This affected the Angolan Civil War that has been ongoing since Angola's independence in 1975. Namibia's ruling party SWAPO wanted to support the ruling party MPLA in Angola to fight the rebel movement UNITA, whose stronghold is in southern Angola, bordering Namibia. The defence pact allowed Angolan troops to use Namibian territory when attacking UNITA.

The alliance between SWAPO and MPLA has deep roots and began as both Angola's and Namibia's ruling parties sought independence during the mid twentieth century and into the Angolan Civil War. In Angola, the leftist movement MPLA was fighting the rightist movement UNITA, which was supported by South Africa. In Namibia, SWAPO, then being a rebel movement, was fighting for independence from South Africa along the Angolan border. Angola allowed SWAPO to establish training and refugee camps for Namibians and PLAN (People's Liberation Army of Namibia) fighters. As MPLA and SWAPO shared a common ideological ground, and had a common enemy in South Africa, they came to cooperate.

The Angolan civil war resulted in a large number of Angolan refugees coming to Namibia. At its peak in 2001 there were over 30,000 Angolan refugees in Namibia. The calmer situation in Angola has made it possible for many of them to return to their home with the help of UNHCR, and in 2004 only 12,600 remained in Namibia. [88] Most of them reside in the refugee camp Osire north of Windhoek.

Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana See Botswana–Namibia relations

Botswana–Namibia relations are friendly, with the two neighbouring countries cooperating on economic development. Botswana gained independence from Britain in September 1966. Namibia gained independence from South Africa in 1990 following the Namibian War of Independence.

  • Botswana has a High Commission in Windhoek.
  • Namibia has a High Commission in Gaborone.
Flag of Eswatini.svg  Eswatini 28 February 1992Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 February 1992 [89]
  • Eswatini is accredited to Namibia from its High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa.
  • Namibia is accredited to Eswatini from its High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa.
Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia

During the South African occupation of Namibia, Ethiopia was one of the country's leading proponents abroad; Ethiopia and Liberia were the first two states to bring the question of independence for then South West Africa to the United Nations. [90]

In 2007, the two governments signed an agreement which expanded air travel between the two states. [91] In December 2009, Namibia's Foreign Minister, Marko Hausiku met with Ethiopian Foreign Affairs Minister Seyoum Mesfin and noted the economic, science, technical and cultural agreements in place between the two countries and expressed a desire to improve the trade relations. [92]

  • Ethiopia is accredited to Namibia from its embassy in Pretoria, South Africa.
  • Namibia has an embassy in Addis Ababa.
Flag of Liberia.svg  Liberia

In 1960, Liberia and Ethiopia brought litigation against apartheid South Africa in the International Court of Justice to end its occupation of Namibia. [93] As part of Liberia's support for Namibia's liberation struggle, many Namibian students received Liberian passports which helped them study abroad.

As of July 2008, a total of 5,900 Namibia Defence Force troops had been rotated through Liberia as part of the United Nations Mission in Liberia. [94] Namibia maintained a battalion of about 800 personnel in Grand Cape Mount county for several years, for most of the period part of UNMIL Sector 2, headquartered at Tubmanburg. In May 2005, Namibian troops were accused of sexual exploitation of young girls and women; three Namibian soldiers were sent home from the force after a United Nations investigation found them guilty of "engaging in sexual activity with civilians", which is against United Nations rules for peacekeepers. [95]

  • Liberia is accredited to Namibia from its embassy in Pretoria, South Africa.
  • Namibia is accredited to Liberia from its high commission in Abuja, Nigeria.
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 21 March 1990

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 March 1990 [96]

Namibia and Nigeria have binding bilateral agreements, but as of 2014, trade between the two countries was low. In March 2014, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan visited Namibia for Namibia's 24th independence day celebrations. The two countries also discussed establishing an oil refinery in Namibia for Nigerian oil. [97]

  • Namibia has a high commission in Abuja.
  • Nigeria has a high commission in Windhoek.
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa See Namibia–South Africa relations

Upon independence in 1990, Namibia's economy was still tied to South Africa's. [98] To this day, the economy of Namibia is still closely contacted to South Africa through both institutional relationships (Southern African Customs Union, for example) and privately owned mining concessions. [99] The South African rand is still legal currency within Namibia, while the Namibian dollar is not so in South Africa and the currencies are traded on par locally.

  • Namibia has a high commission in Pretoria and a consulate-general in Cape Town.
  • South Africa has a high commission in Windhoek.
Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia 5 August 1990See Namibia–Zambia relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 5 August 1990 [100]

  • Namibia has a high commission in Lusaka.
  • Zambia has a high commission in Windhoek.
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe See Namibia–Zimbabwe relations

The ruling parties of Namibia (since independence in 1990) and Zimbabwe (since independence in 1980) have been close since pre-independence days, as both were anti-colonial movements against white-minority governments. [101] Namibia sent troops in the Namibia Defence Force to the Democratic Republic of the Congo alongside Zimbabwe in a SADC coalition to support President Joseph Kabila. [102]

  • Namibia has an embassy in Harare.
  • Zimbabwe has an embassy in Windhoek.

Americas

CountryFormal Relations BeganNotes
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 1990See Brazil–Namibia relations
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada See Canada–Namibia relations

Canada's relationship with Namibia began in 1977 when Canada joined the Western Contact Group, a joint diplomatic effort of France, United Kingdom, United States, Canada and West Germany to bring an internationally acceptable transition to independence for Namibia. In 1990 official relations started; Canada has dispatched an Honorary Consul to Windhoek. [103]

Canada is one of the main destinations for Namibian refugees. Together with Botswana and Denmark, Canada has been granting asylum to people fleeing Namibia in the aftermath of the Caprivi conflict, and particularly the Caprivi treason trial that followed in which the Namibian government was accused of human rights violations. [104] Only in 2010 Canada has changed its standpoint and is now considering the CLA to be a terrorist organisation that has "attempted to usurp an elected government". Nonetheless, Canada received a steady inflow of Namibian immigrants who seek economic betterment under the pretense of humiliation and harassment in Namibia. In 2011 more than 1,000 Namibians entered Canada. Three-quarters of them applied for refugee status, but only a few were successful. [105]

  • Canada is accredited to Namibia from its high commission in Pretoria, South Africa.
  • Namibia is accredited to Canada from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.
Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba See Cuba–Namibia relations

Cuban-Namibian relations date back to the Namibian War of Independence when Cuba politically, militarily and diplomatically supported the Namibian rebel organization and future ruling party, South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) against the military of Apartheid South Africa. [106]

Since independence, Namibia and Cuba have held joint meetings every two years for Economic, Scientific-Technical and Commercial Cooperation. In 2005, it was reported that 1,460 Cuban professionals had worked in Namibia, including 208 in 2005. [106]

  • Cuba has an embassy in Windhoek.
  • Namibia has an embassy in Havana.
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 17 April 1990See Mexico–Namibia relations

Mexico recognized and established diplomatic relations with Namibia on 17 April 1990. In 1993, Mexico opened an embassy in Windhoek, however, the embassy was closed in 2002. [107]

  • Mexico is accredited to Namibia from its embassy in Pretoria, South Africa. [108]
  • Namibia is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States. [109]
Flag of the United States.svg  United States See Namibia–United States relations

U.S.-Namibian relations are good and continue to improve. Characterized by shared democratic values, commitment to rule of law, and respect for human rights, the bilateral relationship has been strengthened through trade ties and U.S. assistance programs. Namibia has seized opportunities created by AGOA. Currently the SACU countries and the U.S. are negotiating a Trade, Investment and Development Cooperation Agreement, scheduled to be signed in 2008. Namibia has been included in President Bush's International Mother and Child HIV Initiative and the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. The U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) bilateral presence in Namibia has been extended until 2010. In addition to the Embassy, the Centers for Disease Control, Peace Corps, and the United States Department of Defense have offices in Windhoek.

  • Namibia has an embassy in Washington, D.C.
  • United States has an embassy in Windhoek.

Asia

CountryFormal Relations BeganNotes
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China See China–Namibia relations

Governmental relations were first established the day after Namibia's independence, but relations with Namibian independence movements date back to the 1960s. [110] China and Namibia have developed close economic relations, with trade increasing twofold between the two countries from 2003 to 2006. During a February 2007 visit, Chinese President Hu Jintao pledged Namibia "RMB 1 billion of concessional loans, 100 million US dollars of preferential export buyer's credit, RMB 30 million yuan of grants and RMB 30 million of interest-free loans..." [110]

Flag of India.svg  India See India–Namibia relations

Relations began between SWAPO and the Indian government prior to independence. In 2010, relations were described by Indian officials as "warm and cordial". India has been involved in training the Namibian Air Force and bilateral trade in 2008–09 stood at $80 million. [111]

  • India has a high commission in Windhoek. [112]
  • Namibia has a high commission in New Delhi. [113]
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia See Indonesia–Namibia relations
  • Indonesia has an embassy in Windhoek.
  • Namibia is accredited to Indonesia from its high commission in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel See Israel–Namibia relations
  • Israel is accredited to Namibia from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem.
  • Namibia is accredited to Israel from its embassy in Cairo, Egypt.
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan See Japan–Namibia relations

Diplomatic relations between Japan and Namibia were established in March 1990.

  • Japan has an embassy in Windhoek.
  • Namibia has an embassy in Tokyo.
Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia See Malaysia–Namibia relations

Both countries were once part of the British Empire and before Namibia achieved its independence, Malaysia has contributed to some operations in Namibia by sending a group of soldiers to help monitor the Namibian elections and peace process. [114] Today, the relations are much more focused in economic cooperation.

  • Malaysia has a high commission in Windhoek.
  • Namibia has a high commission in Kuala Lumpur.
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 1966 [115] See Namibia–Turkey relations
  • Namibia is accredited to Turkey from its embassy in Berlin, Germany.
  • Turkey has an embassy in Windhoek. [115]
  • Trade volume between the two countries was US$11.84 million in 2019 (Namibian exports/imports: 2.44/9.40 million USD). [115]

Europe

CountryFormal Relations BeganNotes
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland See Finland–Namibia relations

Finland recognised Namibia on 21 March 1990. Both countries established diplomatic relations on the same day, and Namibia was represented in Finland through its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Since 2015 Namibia has an embassy in Helsinki. Finland has an embassy in Windhoek and an honorary consulate in Walvis Bay. [116]

Finland has stated it is a staunch supporter of Namibian independence. [117] The Finnish Government has provided assistance in the sectors of forestry, water, environment and health. [118] Namibia's exports to Finland increased from N$810 million in 2004 to over N$1 billion (approximately 90 million EUR) in 2007. [119]

In June 2008, Prime Minister of Namibia Nahas Angula visited Finland. [120]

  • Finland has an embassy in Windhoek.
  • Namibia has an embassy in Helsinki.
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany See Germany–Namibia relations

First contacts between people of the two countries took place when German missionaries were hired by the London Missionary Society to commence working in Southern Namibia during the late 18th and early 19th century. [121] In the 1880s the German Empire came to what is now Namibia as a colonizing power, creating German South-West Africa. The German colonial rule was marked by tensions and led to the genocide of the Herero and Namaqua people from 1904 to 1907, which resulted in the deaths of 65,000 Herero (80 percent of the total Herero population), and 10,000 Nama (50% of the total Nama population). The colony was ruled by Germany until 1915 when it was conquered by troops from the Union of South Africa.

During South African rule, German was one of the three official languages of Namibia, the others being Afrikaans and English. Likewise during Apartheid rule, West Germany maintained a consulate in Windhoek despite United Nations resolutions calling for the isolation of South Africa.

Namibian independence in 1990 coincided with German reunification, resulting in an initially slow development of diplomatic relations. However, in both 1989 and 2004 the German government acknowledged its responsibility for Namibia as a priority partner country. [122] Since then German Development minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul visited Namibia, asking the country for forgiveness of the past. [123] Today, not least due to substantially improved co-operation and exchange, as well as by fate of the permanent presence of the "German tribe in Namibia", the two countries have mostly learnt to a new dialogue, which at times also still stagnates.

  • Germany has an embassy in Windhoek.
  • Namibia has an embassy in Berlin.
Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia

On 21 December 2011 North Macedonia and Namibia established diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level when the Ambassadors of both countries to the UN, Pajo Avirovic and Wilfried Emvula respectively, signed the joint communiqué. With the establishment of diplomatic relations, Namibia recognised Macedonia under its constitutional name the 'Republic of Macedonia' as opposed to its provisional name the 'former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia'; in doing so Namibia became the 133 country to recognise Macedonia's constitutional name. [124]

  • North Macedonia does not have an accreditation to Namibia.
  • Namibia is accredited to North Macedonia from its embassy in Vienna, Austria.
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland See Namibia–Poland relations
  • Namibia is accredited to Poland from its embassy in Berlin, and there is an honorary consulate of Namibia in Warsaw.
  • Poland is accredited to Namibia from its embassy in Pretoria.
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia See Namibia–Russia relations

Relations between Namibia and Russia were considered "excellent" in 2006 by then-Namibian Minister of Education Nangolo Mbumba, while Russia expressed a desire for even stronger relations, particularly in the economic field. Also in 2006, the Namibia-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation was officially opened during a visit by Russian Natural Resources Minister Yuri Trutnev to Windhoek. During said visit, the Minister said Russia was interested in investing in oil, hydro-electric power and tourism. [125] In 2007, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov held discussions with Namibian Deputy Prime Minister Nahas Angula and President Hifikepunye Pohamba in regards to the possibility of developing Namibia's significant uranium deposits with an aim towards creating a nuclear power plant in the country. [126] In 2008, Trutnev returned to Namibia, this time to Swakopmund, to meet at the third annual Intergovernmental Commission. Top foreign ministry official Marco Hausiku and his deputy Lempy Lucas represented Namibia in discussions with Trutnev. [127]

  • Namibia has an embassy in Moscow.
  • Russia has an embassy in Windhoek.
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 1990

Diplomatic relations between Namibia and Serbia were officially established in 1990. [128] Serbia, then part of Yugoslavia, provided education, training, and financial support for SWAPO members during the entirety of the South African Border War, and the two countries have shared close relations ever since. [129] During the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999, Namibia, which was then on the UN Security Council, voted with Russia and China for an immediate cessation of NATO attacks. Namibia also strongly supports the Serbian position on the Kosovo dispute. [130]

  • Namibia is accredited to Serbia from its embassy in Vienna, Austria.
  • Serbia is accredited to Namibia from its embassy in Pretoria, South Africa.
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain See Namibia–Spain relations
  • Namibia is accredited to Spain from its embassy in Paris, France.
  • Spain has an embassy in Windhoek.
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden See Namibia–Sweden relations
  • Namibia has an embassy in Stockholm.
  • Sweden is accredited to Namibia from its embassy in Pretoria, South Africa.
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland
  • Namibia has an embassy in Geneva.
  • Switzerland is accredited to Namibia from its embassy in Pretoria, South Africa and maintains an honorary consulate in Windhoek.
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom See Namibia–United Kingdom relations
  • Namibia has a high commission in London.
  • United Kingdom has a high commission in Windhoek.

Namibia and the Commonwealth of Nations

Namibia has been a Commonwealth republic since 1990, when South West Africa became independent of South Africa.

See also

Notes and references

  1. 1 2 3 "CIA – The World Factbook – Namibia". CIA . Retrieved 9 November 2006.
  2. Mushelenga, Samuel Abraham Peyavali (2008). "Foreign policy-making in Namibia : the dynamics of the smallness of a state" (PDF). pp. 254–259.
  3. "Diplomatic relations between Namibia and ..." United Nations Digital Library. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  4. Resenha de política exterior do Brasil (in Portuguese). Ministério das Relações Exteriores. 1990. p. 96.
  5. "A Guide to Canadian Diplomatic Relations 1925-2019". January 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  6. 1 2 Southern African Political History: A Chronology of Key Political Events from Independence to Mid-1997. 1999. p. 302.
  7. FBIS Daily Report Africa Sub-Sahara. United States Foreign Broadcast Information Service. 1990. p. 14. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  8. "Norges opprettelse af diplomatiske forbindelser med fremmede stater" (PDF). regjeringen.no (in Norwegian). 27 April 1999. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  9. "Namibia" . Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  10. "Namibia (Republic of)" . Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  11. Statements by the President of the Republic of Namibia, H.E. Hifikepunye Pohamba, 21 March 2005 - 31 December 2009. 2012. p. 60.
  12. Summary of World Broadcasts: The Far East. Part III. Monitoring Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. 1990. pp. A-25.
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