The history of Namibia begins with the San, who were living here at least two thousand years ago. As a nation, however, Namibia is relatively young, having gained its independence after prolonged struggles only on 21 March 1990. In 1878, the United Kingdom annexed Walvis Bay on behalf of Cape Colony and the area was incorporated into the Cape of Good Hope in 1884.

Negotiations between the United Kingdom and Germany resulted in Germany’s annexation of the coastal region, excluding Walvis Bay. German colonial power was consolidated and prime grazing land passed to White control as a result of the Herero and Nama wars of 1904-08. German administration ended during World War I following South African occupation in 1915. Namibia was proclaimed a German protectorate in 1884. The conquest of Namibia (then was called South West Africa) by South African forces during World War 1 resulted in its subsequent administration by South Africa under a 1920 League of Nations mandate.

The South African government refused to give independence to the Namibian people, despite many resolutions by the United Nations for independence to the Namibian people. Therefore, Swapo (South-west Africa People’s Organization) liberation movement started the liberation war against the occupying South African forces. This resulted in the South African government to be forced to accept the 1989 implementation of the United Nations resolution 435 for free and fair elections to the Namibian people.

Elections took place and were won by SWAPO with almost 80% of the Namibian people voting in favour of Swapo. In 1990, Namibia celebrated its freedom with SWAPO forming the first democratic elected government and thereafter becoming a member of the United Nations community. On March 1, 1994, the coastal enclave of Walvis Bay and 12 offshore islands were transferred to Namibia by South Africa.

This followed 3 years of bilateral negotiations between the two governments and the establishment of a transitional Joint Administrative Authority (JAA) in November 1992 to administer the territory. The peaceful resolution of this territorial dispute, which dated back to 1878, was praised by the United States and the international community, as it fulfilled the provisions of UN Security Council 432 (1978) which declared Walvis Bay to be an integral part of Namibia on the 21st of march 1994.

Namibia is ruled by a Multiparty Parliament and has a democratic Constitution that is highly regarded by the international community. The Government’s policy of national reconciliation and unity, embraces the concepts of tolerance, respect for differing political views and racial and ethnic harmony. The constitution establishes a bicameral Parliament and provides for general elections every 5 years and regional elections every 6 years. Members of the 72–seat National Assembly are elected on a party list system on a proportional basis. Members of the 26-seat National Council are elected from within popularly elected Regional Councils.

The three branches of government are subject to checks and balances and provision is made for judicial review. The judicial structure in Namibia largely parallels that of South Africa and comprises a Supreme Court, the High Court, and lower courts. Roman-Dutch law has been the common law of the territory since 1919. The Executive branch comprises the Chief of State who is president of Namibia and the Cabinet which consists of members of the National Assembly.

Dr. Sam Nujoma, the Founding Father of the Namibian Nation and leader of the liberation movement (Swapo), was elected democratically in free and fair elections as the first President of the Namibian republic in 1990. He served the Namibian nation tirelessly and created reconciliation amongst its people.

In November 2004, the Founding Father announced his retirement and the Swapo Party democratically elected the Minister of Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, Hifikepunye Pohamba to be the leader of the Swapo Party and candidate for the presidential elections. President Pohamba was elected by the Namibian people in free and fair democratic elections and inaugurated in March 2005 in conjunction with celebrations marking the country’s fifteenth anniversary.

As a republic, Namibia is also a secular state guaranteeing the freedom of religion and media. It is divided into 13 administrative regions including Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, and Otjozondjupa. The constitution provides for the private ownership of property and for human rights protections and states that Namibia should have a mixed economy and encourage foreign investment.

Namibia is a member state of the United Nations (UN), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union (AU) and the Commonwealth of Nations. Namibia became the 160th member of the United Nations on April 23, 1990, and the 50th member of the British Commonwealth upon independence.

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah

Ndemupelila Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (born 29 October 1952), nicknamed NNN, is a Namibian politician who has been the fifth and current president of Namibia since 21 March 2025. She is the country's first female president. Previously, she served as the third vice president under President Nangolo Mbumba between 2024 and 2025. She held various high level political and ministerial position as well as various responsibility within SWAPO party and its government over an uninterrupted period of 57 years.

She was the first female presidential candidate for SWAPO (the South West Africa People's Organisation) in 2024. In 2017, Nandi-Ndaitwah was elected vice president of SWAPO, the first woman to serve in that position. Before entering the top leading position, Nandi-Ndaitwah served as the deputy prime minister of Namibia from 2015 to 2024, minister of International Relations and Cooperation from December 2012 to 2015, and as minister of Environment and Tourism from March 2010 to December 2012. She is a long-time member of the National Assembly.

Nandi-Ndaitwah became politically active as a teenager, joining SWAPO's ranks at the age of 14. She soon became the leader of SWAPO's Youth Movement organisation, fighting to end South Africa's occupation. Nandi-Ndaitwah soon became a target for the opposition, forcing her to go into hiding. Nandi-Ndaitwah went into exile in 1973 and joined SWAPO members in Zambia.

She worked at the SWAPO headquarters in Lusaka from 1973 to 1975 and attended a course at the Lenin Higher Komsomol School in the Soviet Union from 1975 until 1976. She graduated with a diploma in the work and practice of the communist youth movement. In 1987, she obtained a post-graduate diploma in public administration and management from the Glasgow College of Technology, in the United Kingdom, and 1988, a further post-graduate diploma in international relations from Keele University, also in the UK.

In 1989, Nandi-Ndaitwah obtained a master's degree in diplomatic studies, also from Keele University. After the 2024 November election, she was given an honorary Doctorate in diplomatic and public work by the University of Dar es Salaam.

During her inauguration speech in 2025, she pledged to focus on job creation, specifically targeting "500,000 new jobs" as a policy priority, with a key focus on agriculture, fishing, creative, and sports industries. In April 2025, Nandi-Ndaitwah announced that the government would provide free tertiary education in government schools beginning in 2026.

Since independence, the Namibian Government has pursued largely market-oriented economic policies aimed at promoting investment, commercial development and job creation, while expanding economic participation among previously disadvantaged Namibians. Namibia’s economy is heavily resource-based, with mining remaining one of the most important sectors and contributing significantly to export earnings and government revenue.

In recent years, mining has accounted for a substantial share of GDP (typically between 10% and 20%, depending on commodity cycles), while manufacturing contributes roughly 8–12%. Other important sectors include public administration, tourism, agriculture and financial services.

Namibia’s economy remains closely linked to that of South Africa due to historical ties, geographic proximity and strong trade integration. Namibia is one of Africa’s leading exporters of non-fuel minerals and is among the world’s largest producers of uranium. Rich offshore and alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia an important source of high-quality gem diamonds. In addition to diamonds and uranium, Namibia produces copper, gold, zinc, lead and other mineral resources.

Given its relatively small domestic market but favourable geographic location and well-developed transport and communications infrastructure, Namibia actively promotes regional economic integration. In addition to its membership of the Commonwealth, Namibia is a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The country is also part of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), together with South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini.

Within SACU, goods produced in member states move tariff-free between countries. South Africa remains Namibia’s largest trading partner, with a significant share of Namibia’s imports originating there and many exports destined for or transiting through South Africa.

Outside of South Africa, the European Union remains an important market for Namibian exports. Namibia’s exports consist mainly of precious stones and diamonds, uranium, gold, copper, zinc, salt, meat, fish, oysters, grapes and leather products. Namibia has also benefited from preferential access to the United States market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), although the programme lapsed in September 2025 and is currently under temporary extension, with its long-term future uncertain. Apparel exports under AGOA have fluctuated in recent years.

The country has some of the richest uranium deposits in the world, with several large mines operating in the Erongo region. Significant offshore oil and gas discoveries have recently been made in the Orange Basin along Namibia’s southern coast, attracting major international energy companies and positioning the country as a potential future oil producer. Exploration and appraisal drilling are ongoing as companies assess the commercial viability of these resources.