History of Namibia

The history of Namibia has passed through several distinct stages from being colonised in the late nineteenth century to Namibia's independence on 21 March 1990.

From 1884, Namibia was a German colony: German South West Africa. After the First World War, the League of Nations gave South Africa a mandate to administer the territory. Following World War II, the League of Nations was dissolved in April 1946 and its successor, the United Nations, instituted a trusteeship system to reform the administration of the former League of Nations mandates and clearly establish majority rule and independence as eventual goals for the trust territories. South Africa objected arguing that a majority of the territory's people were content with South African rule.

Legal argument ensued over the course of the next twenty years until, in October 1966, the UN General Assembly decided to end the mandate, declaring that South Africa had no further right to administer the territory, and that henceforth South West Africa was to come under the direct responsibility of the UN (Resolution 2145 XXI of 27 October 1966).

Pre-colonial history

As early as 25 000 B.C., the first humans lived in the Huns Mountains in the South of Namibia. The stone paintings from that time are among the oldest works of art in the world. A piece of jawbone from thirteen million years ago was found in the Otavi Mountains. We also find tools and weapons from the Stone Age that show early humans hunted animals in the region.

In the Brandberg Mountains, there are many rock paintings, most made around 2000 B.C. We are not sure which groups made them. The San (Bushmen) and the Damara are the oldest groups in Namibia. The Nama settled in southern Namibia during the first century B.C. Unlike the San and Damara, the Nama raised their own livestock.

The Ovambo and Kavango lived in northern Namibia and southern Angola. They farmed, raised cattle, fished, and made metal goods. They belonged to the Bantu nation and traded with others but rarely traveled south because the land was not good for their farming.

During the 17th century, the Herero, a group of cattle-raising people, moved into Namibia from east Africa. They first lived in Kaokoland, but later some moved south into Damaraland. Some Herero stayed in Kaokoland and are today known as the Himba people.

In the 19th century, white farmers called Boers moved north, pushing the indigenous Khoisan peoples across the Orange River. These people, known as Oorlams, adopted Boer customs and spoke a language similar to Afrikaans. Armed with guns, they caused trouble as they settled in Namaqualand, leading to conflicts with the Nama and Herero.

The Basters, descendants of Boer men and African women, arrived in Namibia in 1868. They settled in central Namibia and founded the city Rehoboth. In 1872, they created the "Free Republic of Rehoboth" with their own rules and leaders.

The first Europeans to visit Namibia were Portuguese explorers in the late 1400s. They did not go far inland because of the Namib Desert. In 1793, the Dutch took control of Walvis Bay, and later the British took over. Missionaries began working in Namibia in the early 1800s.

In 1884, a German trader named Adolf Lüderitz bought land from a Nama chief and named it Lüderitz. That same year, Germany claimed Namibia as a colony called German South West Africa. In 1890, the Caprivi Strip became part of German South West Africa, giving Germany access to the Zambezi River.

German South West Africa

Main article: German South West Africa

After Germany claimed a large area along the Atlantic coast as its own, conflicts began with local tribes, especially the Nama. Hendrik Witbooi, a leader of the Nama, strongly resisted the German takeover. Though the Nama fought hard, they were eventually forced to sign a treaty with the Germans in 1894. This treaty let the Nama keep their weapons, and Witbooi promised not to fight anymore.

A man named Theodor Leutwein became the leader of the German area and tried to govern without fighting. However, some rebellions continued. The Germans built a fence called the Red Line to separate different groups of people, which changed how they were ruled.

Germany saw this area as a good place for German people to live, and many German settlers arrived. The discovery of diamonds in 1908 brought even more settlers. The government encouraged taking land from local people, which made relationships worse.

The Herero and Nama wars

Main article: Herero and Nama genocide

Tensions grew until 1904, when the Herero people attacked farms, killing around 150 Germans. This led to a big war. Germany sent more soldiers, and the fighting ended with many Herero and Nama people suffering greatly. Sadly, many died from lack of water and other hard conditions.

Descendants of a German leader apologized in 2007 for what happened long ago.

South African rule

In 1915, during World War I, South Africa occupied the German colony of South West Africa.

On 17 December 1920, South Africa began to govern South West Africa under an agreement with the League of Nations. This agreement gave South Africa control over the territory.

During the 1960s, pressure grew for South Africa to grant independence to South West Africa, which is now Namibia. In 1966, the International Court of Justice said South Africa's control was illegal.

Namibian struggle for independence

Main article: South African Border War

In 1966, the military wing of the South West Africa People's Organisation began attacks on South African forces. Fighting continued for many years.

In 1971, the International Court of Justice again said South Africa must leave Namibia.

International pressure

In 1977, several countries formed the Western Contact Group to help Namibia gain independence. In 1978, the United Nations created a plan for Namibia's independence, but South Africa did not follow it at first.

Negotiations and transition

In 1988, agreements were made for South Africa to leave Namibia. In 1989, the United Nations helped Namibia prepare for independence.

Independence

Main article: New York Accords

On 21 March 1990, Namibia became independent. Sam Nujoma became the first president.

On 1 March 1994, South Africa gave back the area of Walvis Bay to Namibia after negotiations.

Independent Namibia

Since Namibia became independent, it has changed from being ruled by a small group of people to becoming a democracy where everyone can vote. Elections happen regularly, and many political parties take part, though the SWAPO Party has won every election since independence. The change from President Sam Nujoma to Hifikepunye Pohamba in 2005 happened without any problems.

The government worked to bring together people who had been on different sides during past fights. Sometimes, Namibia sent soldiers to help other countries, like when they supported the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There were also attempts by some people to separate part of Namibia called the Caprivi region, but these were stopped by the government.

After Sam Nujoma left office in 2005, Hifikepunye Pohamba took over. In 2014, Hage Geingob became president and was re-elected in 2019. Sadly, he passed away in 2024 and was succeeded by Nangolo Mbumba. In 2025, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah became Namibia's first female president after winning the election.