On 21 March 1990, South West Africa became the independent Republic of Namibia, ending 75 years of German and South African control. Prior to 1990, the territory was known as South West Africa, and was a German colony from 1884 until 1915, when it was taken over by the South African government. South West Africa was then administered by South Africa as a League of Nations Mandate from 1920 until 1966, and as a UN Trust Territory from 1966 until 1990. The independence of Namibia was granted after a long and bitter struggle by the Namibian people, who had to endure severe human rights abuses by the South African government.
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When Did South West Africa Became Namibia
On March 21, 1990, South West Africa officially became the Republic of Namibia following a UN sponsored transition to independence. South West Africa had long been a colony of South Africa, but in 1966 the International Court of Justice had decided that South Africa’s administration of the territory was illegal. This resulted in the UN taking over administrative control of the area until it could be transitioned to independence. After years of negotiations, the transition to independence was finally secured. Namibia has since become a stable democracy, with a multi-party system and free and fair elections.
Historical context: Explaining pre-colonial history and background
When discussing the historical context of South West Africa, it is important to understand the precolonial history and background of the region. South West Africa, now known as Namibia, had a long and varied history prior to the arrival of European settlers in the 19th century.
The earliest inhabitants of the region were the San and Khoe people, who are believed to have lived in the area for thousands of years. These hunter-gatherers lived in small, nomadic tribes and were isolated from the rest of the world. It is thought that the San and Khoe people were the first to cultivate crops and domesticate animals in the region.
From the 13th to the 15th centuries, the San and Khoe people were displaced by the Bantu peoples, who migrated from the north and east. These new arrivals established numerous small chiefdoms and states throughout South West Africa, including the Kingdom of Mapungubwe and the Kingdom of Great Zimbabwe.
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive in the region in the 15th century, and they eventually established several trading posts along the coast. However, the Portuguese did not have a major impact on the region until the 19th century. In 1884, South West Africa was declared a German protectorate, and German settlers began to move into the region.
Although the German settlers had a significant influence on the region, the indigenous peoples of South West Africa continued to maintain much of their traditional culture and customs. In 1915, the German forces were defeated by the British, and South West Africa was placed under the administration of the Union of South Africa. This arrangement lasted until the end of World War II, when the United Nations granted South West Africa to the Union of South Africa.
In 1966, the South West African People’s Organization (SWAPO) was formed, and the movement for Namibian independence began. After a long struggle, Namibia finally achieved independence in 1990. Since then, Namibia has become one of the most stable and prosperous countries in Africa.
In conclusion, the precolonial history and background of South West Africa, now known as Namibia, is complex and diverse. From the earliest inhabitants of the region to the modern-day nation, the region has seen a lot of change and development. The journey to independence was long and hard, but it has ultimately made Namibia into the vibrant and prosperous nation it is today.
South African rule: Explaining the South African occupation of South West Africa
South West Africa, now known as Namibia, was a land that has seen a long and storied history of occupation and rule. From German colonization in the late 19th century to South African rule in the 20th century, the region has been a hub of international politics and conflict. In this blog post, we will be exploring the period of South African rule in South West Africa, and how it ultimately led to the country’s independence in 1990.
South West Africa, or present-day Namibia, was colonized by Germany in 1884. This period of German colonization was marked by violence, with the Herero and Nama people being subjected to forced labor, relocation, and extermination. After World War I, the League of Nations granted South Africa a mandate over the region in 1920. The South African government quickly set about implementing a policy of racial segregation and apartheid, with the white minority receiving preferential treatment in all areas of life. From 1950 to 1966, South West Africa was also administered as a de facto fifth province of South Africa.
In 1966, the International Court of Justice ruled that South Africa’s continued occupation of South West Africa was illegal. Despite this ruling, South Africa refused to relinquish control over the region and continued its policy of apartheid. This led to the emergence of the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), a pro-independence movement that began to fight for Namibian independence. In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly declared South Africa’s rule of South West Africa to be illegal and called for Namibia’s independence.
The fight for Namibian independence was long and arduous, with South Africa continuing to resist calls for independence. In 1988, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 435, which outlined the terms for Namibian independence. This resolution called for the implementation of a cease-fire and the withdrawal of South African forces from the region. South Africa eventually agreed to the resolution and Namibia gained its independence in 1990.
The period of South African rule in South West Africa was a dark chapter in the region’s history. From forced labor to racial segregation, South African rule was marked by violence and oppression. Thankfully, the efforts of the SWAPO movement and the international community eventually led to the country’s independence in 1990. From then on, Namibia has been able to develop and prosper as a sovereign nation.
Namibian independence: Explaining the process of transition to Namibian self-rule
The transition to Namibian self-rule was a long and drawn out process that eventually resulted in the independence of the country in 1990. Before the independence, the country was known as South West Africa, and was a colony of the German Empire from 1884 to 1915. After the First World War, South West Africa was placed under the authority of the League of Nations and subsequently became a mandate of South Africa in 1920. During this period, South Africa implemented a policy of apartheid, and the people of South West Africa were denied basic rights and freedoms.
In 1966, the United Nations revoked South Africa’s mandate, and in 1968 the UN General Assembly declared South West Africa to be a non-self-governing territory. This declaration was followed by the formation of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) in 1960, which was dedicated to securing independence for the country. The SWAPO launched an armed struggle against the South African forces in 1966, and the conflict would last for over two decades.
In the late 1970s, South Africa began engaging in negotiations with the UN and SWAPO, and in 1978 the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 435, which called for a transition to Namibian self-rule. After several years of negotiations, South Africa agreed to withdraw its forces from the territory and to hold free and fair elections. In 1989, a multi-party transitional government was established, and in 1990 the country held its first democratic elections.
SWAPO leader Sam Nujoma was elected as the country’s first president and Namibia officially gained its independence on 21 March 1990. Since then, the country has made significant strides in terms of economic and social development, and is now considered to be one of the most stable countries in Africa.
Conclusion
When did South West Africa become Namibia?
The answer to this question is complex and there is no single, definitive answer.
Despite being part of the same country for centuries, the answer to when South West Africa became Namibia can be traced back to a number of different events and factors.
One key event was the decision by the United Nations to grant independence to South West Africa in 1991. This was a result of the UN’s objective of ensuring that all black people in the region had the opportunity to govern themselves.
Another factor was the fact that South West Africa was not part of the apartheid regime in South Africa. This meant that it was not subject to the same restrictions and restrictions on civil liberties as other parts of South Africa. As a result, South West Africa was able to develop relatively smoothly as an independent country.
There are a number of other factors that can also be used to explain why South West Africa became Namibia. One of these is the fact that the region had a long history of resistance to white rule. This resistance was often based on the idea of self-determination, which meant that the region deserved to be independent from white rule.
