Namibia

Namibia’s history contains several episodes of brutal colonial domination. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the country was a German colony. The Herero and Nama genocide perpetrated by the Germans from 1904 to 1908 was an atrocity that still strains relations with Germany despite the recent payment of reparations. From 1920 to 1990, Namibia was under South African rule and was called South-West Africa. During this time, South Africa’s apartheid laws were in force, depriving Black Namibians of basic political and social rights and freedoms. As a result of these policies, whites continue to dominate business and commercial farm ownership, despite making up only six percent of the population, and inequality remains the second-highest in the world (after South Africa). The South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) led the liberationist forces against South Africa’s apartheid government during the Namibian War of Independence, a conflict which led to the country’s independence in 1990. 

After its 1990 transition to multiparty democracy, the country has been under the uninterrupted rule of SWAPO (now a political party). Initially overwhelmingly popular, due its status as the country’s liberationist party, SWAPO’s support has begun to erode in recent years, in part because of corruption scandals and allegations of mismanagement. Women’s rights and gender-based violence are salient issues in Namibian politics, as youth activists have led protests to draw attention to very high rates of intimate partner violence. In addition, campaigners are calling for the country’s strict abortion laws to be reformed. Major debate surrounds the future of LGBTQIA+ rights in the country, as activists fight to have same-sex marriages and adoptions recognized. Discrimination against the indigenous San people, particularly in healthcare, is a cause for concern and has threatened the country’s progress in its fight against the tuberculosis epidemic. Environmental issues, particularly desertification and insufficient water supplies, have also played a central role in public life. The government continues to focus its primary efforts on development and poverty reduction efforts, while also working to address the deep inequities between white and Black Namibians. 

Looking ahead, it will be important to watch the extent to which opposition parties are able to gain seats, especially given that they have performed better against SWAPO in 2019, putting pressure on the ruling party. It will also be important to watch how the recent discovery of oil impacts a range of indicators.