Namibia
South Africa occupied the German colony of Sud-West Afrika during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War II when it annexed the territory. In 1966 the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organization (Swapo) guerrilla group launched a war of independence for the area that was soon named Namibia, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration in accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Independence came in 1990, after a bush war of nearly 25 years. Inter-racial reconciliation encouraged Namibia's white people to remain and they still play a major role in farming and other economic sectors.
Sam Nujoma became Namibia's first president at independence, having been a key figure in shaping the country's destiny since he took over the leadership of the South West African People's Organization (SWAPO) in 1962 and launched the armed struggle against South African rule. He has been praised for his reconciliation towards resident whites but is accused of having adopted an increasingly authoritarian style. He was re-elected in 1994 and 1999.
In November 2004, Hifikepunye Pohamba, a founder member of the ruling Swapo party and Nujoma's chosen successor, won a landslide victory in presidential polls; he was inaugurated in March 2005. Opposition parties disputed the outcome and demanded a recount. Most observers reported little evidence of irregularities. Sam Nujoma remains as the governing party's leader. Pohamba said he would pursue his mentor's policies, including proposed land reforms. He has warned of a possible "revolution" should white farmers refuse to sell land to the government. The land-reform issue is so popular that it has guaranteed a large Swapo majority in legislative elections. The expropriation of white-owned farms began in 2005 and the government says it aims to resettle thousands of landless citizens.
The Namibian economy has always been highly export-oriented and closely tied to South Africa. The discovery of diamonds in 1908 prompted an influx of Europeans. Namibia imports most production inputs, intermediate goods, including fuels and lubricants, consumer products and foodstuffs (mostly from South Africa). Since independence, Namibia has maintained a current account surplus, owing mainly to high net transfers offsetting the large net outflow of invisibles. The net transfers are largely earnings on pension and life assurance assets in South Africa, which continue to exceed repatriated profits and dividends paid to foreign parent companies. The expansion of tourism has also boosted the net travel surplus.
Like its economy, South Africa dominates Namibia's foreign relations. The outstanding post-independence territorial issue between the two countries was the status of Walvis Bay, of which South Africa maintained possession. Following negotiations with Pretoria, the port was returned to Namibian jurisdiction in 1993. Similarly, the dozen offshore islands, which Namibia also claimed, were ceded. Relations with Angola are also much improved.
There are currently no known threats to visitors or expatriate personnel in Namibia.
In the late 1990s secessionist agitation in the Caprivi Strip, in eastern Namibia, prompted thousands to flee to Botswana. In 2002 the government declared the area safe for tourism. Travel along the Trans-Caprivi Highway between Rundu and Katima Mulilo (in the Caprivi Strip) should be undertaken only during daylight hours, and on well-traveled routes. The Namibian authorities are clearing unexploded ordinance from areas that are barred to public access.
The zone along the border with Angola (the Ohengwena region) as well as the north of the Omusati area are hazardous. A demining project is underway to clear mines dating back to the war of independence. The region between Eenhana and Okongo has been cleared. There are still mines between Ruacana (on the Kunene river) down to the northeastern boundary of Etosha Park. In the regions of Kavango (in the northeast) and the Caprivi Strip (running along the Okavango River to the Zambian border), the situation has normalized since the signing in April 2002 of a cease-fire between the Angolan government and the UNITA rebels, but banditry remains a concern. Access to some zones is prohibited.
