Namibia

The Republic of Namibia is a country in southwestern Africa, on the Atlantic coast. It is bordered by Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east, and South Africa to the south. It gained independence from South Africa in 1990, and as such it is one of the youngest nations in the world. Its capital is Windhoek.

History

Main article: History of Namibia

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The dry lands of Namibia were inhabited since early times by Bushmen, Damara, Namaqua, and since about the 14th century AD, by immigrating Bantu who came with the Bantu expansion. The region was not extensively explored by Europeans until the 19th century, when the land came under German control as South-West Africa -- apart from Walvis Bay under British control. South Africa occupied the colony during World War I and administered it as a League of Nations mandate territory until after World War II, when it unilaterally annexed the territory, albeit without international recognition.

Related Topics:
Bushmen - Damara - Namaqua - Bantu - Bantu expansion - Europe - 19th century - German - South-West Africa - Walvis Bay - British - South Africa - World War I - League of Nations - Mandate territory - World War II

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In 1966 the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war of independence for the area, that was soon named Namibia; but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration, in accordance with a United Nations peace plan for the entire region. Independence came in 1990, and Walvis Bay was ceded to Namibia in 1994.

Related Topics:
1966 - Marxist - South-West Africa People's Organisation - Guerrilla - 1988 - United Nations - 1990 - 1994

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