History

The borders of what is now Namibia were defined by colonial powers in the nineteenth century.   At that time, the land was established as South-West Africa and came under German rule.   However, long before then waves of immigration brought various people groups to the area, some from Central Africa, others from the east, and still others from the south.   South Africa later occupied the German colony of South-West Africa during World War I and administered it as a UN mandate until after World War II, when it annexed the territory.   When apartheid rule came into effect in South Africa in the 1950’s, these policies were also enforced in South West Africa.

In the 1960’s the South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) 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. Namibia won its independence in 1990 and has been governed by democratically-elected leadership ever since.   Sam Nujoma , a recognized leader in the independence movement, led the country during its first 14 years of self-rule.   Following Nujoma’s retirement Hifikepunye Pohamba was elected president in November 2004 in a landslide victory.