Mishake Muyongo

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After Namibia's independence, tensions arose concerning the political future of the Caprivi region. Many leaders from the Mafwe and Masubia ethnic groups, including Muyongo, felt that the region's interests were not adequately represented in the newly independent Namibia. The Caprivi strip has a complex history of territorial exchanges; it was acquired by Germany from Britain through the Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty of 1890 to provide access to the Zambezi River. It later became part of South West Africa under South African mandate after World War I. This historical context contributed to the perception among some leaders that the Caprivi strip was not originally part of South West Africa and, therefore, should not be part of Namibia. [14] Some sources suggest that during the 1964 merger of SWAPO and CANU, there was an understanding that the Caprivi region would be granted self-governance upon Namibia's independence. [15] [1] This sense of alienation contributed to a broader sentiment of secessionism in the region, which culminated in the Caprivi Liberation Army (CLA) uprising in 1998.

On 2 August 1999, the CLA attacked several government institutions in Katima Mulilo, including a army base, police station, a border post, a state-run radio station (of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation) and the Katima Mulilo Airport. In the fighting that followed between the CLA and the Namibia Defense Force, 14 people were killed, including some civilians caught in the crossfire. [16] A state of emergency was declared in the region leading to widespread arrests of suspected CLA supporters. Many Caprivians, including former Caprivi Region Governor John Mabuku, fled to Botswana during this time. [17]

In the aftermath of the failed secessionist attempt, Muyongo fled to Denmark via Botswana with other leaders from the Caprivi region, including Chief Boniface Bebi Mamili. [6] The Namibian government sought their extradition, but Muyongo and Bebi found asylum in Denmark and escaped the Caprivi treason trial in Namibia. [18] Muyongo was eventually replaced as president of the DTA by Katuutire Kaura, who publicly called for his return and prosecution. [19] Despite living in exile, Muyongo remained an outspoken critic of the Namibian government and consistently advocated for the rights and self-determination of the Caprivi people. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Muyongo speaks from the past in treason trial." The Namibian. https://www.namibian.com.na/muyongo-speaks-from-the-past-in-treason-trial/. Accessed 12 April 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 Klaus Dierks Biography of Mishake Muyongo.
  3. "Electoral Act, 1992: Notification of Result of General Election for Members of the National Assembly" (PDF). Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia. No. 1003. Government of Namibia. 23 September 1994. pp. 2–5.
  4. "Namibia (Caprivi Strip, 1994–present)". DADM Project. University of Central Arkansas. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  5. "Namibia: Opposition party reportedly suspends leader", SAPA, 25 August 1998.
  6. 1 2 "Namibia: Mabuku Dies in Exile". The Namibian . AllAfrica.com. 16 July 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2008.
  7. "Namibia: Party leader says ex-opposition leader Muyongo should return, be tried", NBC Radio, Windhoek, 31 October 1998.
  8. Historical Dictionary of Namibia (2nd ed.). Scarecrow Press. 31 August 2012. p. 267. ISBN   9780810879904.
  9. "Where others wavered". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  10. Sällström, Tor (17 March 1995). "Interview with Mishake Muyongo". Nordic Africa Institute. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  11. Political Parties of the World (6th edition, 2005), ed. Bogdan Szajkowski, page 428.
  12. "Namibia: Opposition party reportedly suspends leader", SAPA, 25 August 1998.
  13. "Caprivi political party declared illegal". afrol News/IRIN. 11 September 2006.
  14. Perras, Arne (2004). Carl Peters and German Imperialism 1856–1918 : A Political Biography: A Political Biography. Clarendon Press. pp. 168–79. ISBN   9780191514722.
  15. "'SECRET' Nujoma-Muyongo document surfaces" Archived 24 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine , The Namibian, 24 January 2007.
  16. Melber, Henning (2009). "One Namibia, one nation? The Caprivi as contested territory". Journal of Contemporary African Studies . 27 (4): 463–481. doi:10.1080/02589000903399454. S2CID   144750882.
  17. Lamb, Guy (October 1999). "Civil supremacy of the military in Namibia: A retrospective case study". Centre for Conflict Resolution via NamibWeb.
  18. "High Treason Suspect Muyongo’s fate to be determined by the UNHCR", November 2001.
  19. "Namibia: Party leader says ex-opposition leader Muyongo should return, be tried", NBC Radio, Windhoek, 31 October 1998.
Albert Mishake Muyongo
MP
Mishake Muyongo (1976).jpg
Mishake Muyongo (1976)
President of Democratic Turnhalle Alliance
In office
1990–1998