21 March 1990, Namibia was finally granted autonomy by the South African government under a peace deal negotiated by the United Nations, liberating the country from decades of oppression.
Namibia, now officially known as the Republic of Namibia, gained independence from South Africa in 1990 after going through the long asymmetric conflict. The struggle is known as the Namibia War of Independence or the South African Border War.
The League of Nations, formed after the First World War, had placed South West Africa (popular name for Namibia during those days) under the administration of South African government. Although the United Nations after Second World War rejected South Africa’s argument of incorporating Namibia as a province in the country, it was the 1948 National Party government in South Africa that continued repressing Namibia. Extension of South African apartheid policies to Namibia in 1948 and countless incidents of human rights violations led to the formation of South West African People’s Organization (SWAPO) in Namibia. SWAPO became the political institution in Namibia that led the liberation movement and claimed immediate independence. The United Nations recognised SWAPO as a political organization of Namibia in the year 1973.
In 1988, the South African government after a long battle of independence agreed to a peace deal with Namibia initiated and mediated by the United Nations. Under the peace deal, Namibia was granted independence on 21 March 1990. However, South African government continued administration of the regions of Penguin Islands and Walvis Bay until 1994. Samuel Shafiishuna Daniel Nujoma also known as Sam Nujoma, the key leader of the Namibia liberation movement, became the first President of Namibia and served three terms from 1990 to 2005.
