20th century – 20th century
Namibia
The Namibian transition to independence was a negotiated and internationally supervised process that followed the May 1988 agreement among South Africa, Angola and Cuba on implementing UN Security Council Resolution 435. It included the deployment of the United Nations Transition Assistance Group, a ceasefire and demobilisation process, voter registration, elections in December 1989, constitutional negotiations, and independence on 21 March 1990. Despite a violent start and intimidation, the process ultimately produced a peaceful transfer of power.
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The Story
The transition emerged from negotiations begun in May 1988. South Africa, Angola and Cuba agreed to the Geneva protocols, which established a timetable for implementing Resolution 435 in Namibia and withdrawing South African and Cuban troops from Angola. The planned transition was to begin on 1 February 1989 with the arrival of United Nations personnel under the United Nations Transition Assistance Group, or UNTAG.
UNTAG drew personnel from 109 countries and eventually reached a strength of 4,650 military and 1,498 civilian personnel. The plan included a ceasefire on 1 April, the confinement to base and demobilisation of SWATF and PLAN forces, registration of voters on a single roll, and elections for a constituent assembly. The process was nearly derailed when SWAPO sent PLAN fighters across the border at the beginning of the ceasefire; fighting in the north killed about 140 PLAN guerrillas in the first three days and perhaps 250 people on all sides before it subsided.
Diplomatic efforts restored the transition by mid-May, although intimidation by Koevoet and the DTA remained a serious problem. UN monitoring, voter education and international observation helped create the conditions for elections in December 1989. SWAPO won 57.3 per cent of the vote and 41 seats in the Constituent Assembly, while the DTA won 28.6 per cent and 21 seats. The assembly then negotiated a constitution, accepting proportional representation, a second chamber, an effective presidency and a Bill of Fundamental Human Rights.
Independence was declared on 21 March 1990, with Sam Nujoma sworn in as President. The transition was judged free and fair by the international community and resulted in the return of 42,736 people from forty-two countries by the end of 1989. Namibia’s territory was finally unified when Walvis Bay was transferred from South African to Namibian rule in 1994.
20th century – 20th century
Namibia
The Namibian transition to independence was a negotiated and internationally supervised process that followed the May 1988 agreement among South Africa, Angola and Cuba on implementing UN Security Council Resolution 435. It included the deployment of the United Nations Transition Assistance Group, a ceasefire and demobilisation process, voter registration, elections in December 1989, constitutional negotiations, and independence on 21 March 1990. Despite a violent start and intimidation, the process ultimately produced a peaceful transfer of power.
Continue exploring
The Story
The transition emerged from negotiations begun in May 1988. South Africa, Angola and Cuba agreed to the Geneva protocols, which established a timetable for implementing Resolution 435 in Namibia and withdrawing South African and Cuban troops from Angola. The planned transition was to begin on 1 February 1989 with the arrival of United Nations personnel under the United Nations Transition Assistance Group, or UNTAG.
UNTAG drew personnel from 109 countries and eventually reached a strength of 4,650 military and 1,498 civilian personnel. The plan included a ceasefire on 1 April, the confinement to base and demobilisation of SWATF and PLAN forces, registration of voters on a single roll, and elections for a constituent assembly. The process was nearly derailed when SWAPO sent PLAN fighters across the border at the beginning of the ceasefire; fighting in the north killed about 140 PLAN guerrillas in the first three days and perhaps 250 people on all sides before it subsided.
Diplomatic efforts restored the transition by mid-May, although intimidation by Koevoet and the DTA remained a serious problem. UN monitoring, voter education and international observation helped create the conditions for elections in December 1989. SWAPO won 57.3 per cent of the vote and 41 seats in the Constituent Assembly, while the DTA won 28.6 per cent and 21 seats. The assembly then negotiated a constitution, accepting proportional representation, a second chamber, an effective presidency and a Bill of Fundamental Human Rights.
Independence was declared on 21 March 1990, with Sam Nujoma sworn in as President. The transition was judged free and fair by the international community and resulted in the return of 42,736 people from forty-two countries by the end of 1989. Namibia’s territory was finally unified when Walvis Bay was transferred from South African to Namibian rule in 1994.