Foreign relations of Namibia 21301 216186533 2008-05-31T13:54:54Z AnnaFrance 7002667 clean up, typos fixed: ninteenth → nineteenth using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] {{Politics of Namibia}} [[Namibia]] follows a largely independent [[foreign policy]], with strong affiliations with states that aided the independence struggle, including [[Libya]] and [[Cuba]]. In [[Africa]], Namibia has been involved in conflicts in neigbhouring [[Angola]] as well as the [[Democratic Republic of Congo]]. == International organizations == Namibia is a member of 46 different [[international organization]]s. Theses are<ref name="CIA" />: <div class="references-small"> {| |- | * [[Lomé Convention]] ([[ACP countries|ACP]]) * [[African Development Bank]] (AfDB) * [[African Union]] (AU) * [[Image:Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations.svg|22px]] [[Commonwealth of Nations]] (CN) * [[Food and Agriculture Organization]] (FAO) * [[Group of 77]] (G-77) * [[Image:Flag of IAEA.svg|22px]] [[International Atomic Energy Agency]] (IAEA) * [[International Bank for Reconstruction and Development]] (IBRD) * [[International Civil Aviation Organization]] (ICAO) * [[International Criminal Court]] (ICCt) * [[International Confederation of Free Trade Unions]] (ICFTU) * ICRM * [[International Fund for Agricultural Development]] (IFAD) * [[International Finance Corporation]] (IFC) * [[Image:Flag of the ICRC.svg|22px]] [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement]] (IFRCS) * [[International Labour Organization]] (ILO) * [[International Monetary Fund]] (IMF) * [[Interpol]] * [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC) * [[International Organization for Migration]] (IOM, observer) * IPU * [[International Organization for Standardization]] (ISO, correspondent) * [[Image:Flag of ITU.svg|22px]] [[International Telecommunication Union]] (ITU) | * MIGA * [[Non-Aligned Movement]] (NAM) * ONUB * [[Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons]] (OPCW) * SACU * [[Image:Flag of SADC.svg|22px]] [[Southern African Development Community]] (SADC) * [[Image:Flag of the United Nations.svg|22px]] [[United Nations]] (UN) * [[United Nations Conference on Trade and Development]] (UNCTAD) * [[Image:Flag of UNESCO.svg|22px]] [[United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization]] (UNESCO) * UNHCR * [[United Nations Industrial Development Organization]] (UNIDO) * [[United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea]] (UNMEE) * [[United Nations Mission in Liberia]] (UNMIL) * UNMIS * UNOCI * [[Universal Postal Union]] (UPU) * WCL * [[World Customs Organization]] (WCO) * [[Image:Flag of WHO.svg|22px]] [[World Health Organization]] (WHO) * [[World Intellectual Property Organization]] (WIPO) * [[Image:Flag of the World Meteorological Organization.svg|22px]] [[World Meteorological Organization]] (WMO) * [[World Tourism Organization]] (WToO) * [[World Trade Organization]] (WTrO) |} </div> === United Nations === Namibia became the 160th member of the [[United Nations]] on [[April 23]], [[1990]] upon independence.<ref name="CIA"/> === African Union === With a small army and a fragile economy, the Namibian Government's principal foreign policy concern is developing strengthened ties within the [[Southern Africa]]n region. A dynamic member of the [[Southern African Development Community]], Namibia is a vocal advocate for greater regional integration. == Other countries == === Angola === {{main|Angolan-Namibian relations}} [[Image:Flag of Angola.svg|thumb|left|100px|[[Angola]]]] In [[1999]] Namibia signed a mutual defence pact with its northern neighbour [[Angola]].<ref name="Situation Report">{{cite web | first = Vincent | last = William | url = http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/publ/opendoc.pdf?tbl=RSDCOI&id=3ae6a6cb8&page=publ | title = Namibia: Situation Report | publisher = United Nations High Commission on Refugees | accessdate = 2006-08-26 }}</ref> This affected the [[Angolan Civil War]] that has been ongoing since Angola's independence in [[1975]]. Namibias ruling party [[SWAPO]] wanted to support the ruling party [[MPLA]] in Angola to fight the rebel movement [[UNITA]], whose stronghold is in southern Angola, bordering to Namibia. The defence pact allowed Angolan troops to use Namibian territory when attacking [[UNITA]]. The alliance between SWAPO and MPLA is old began as both Angola's and Namibia's ruling parties sought independence during the mid nineteenth century and into the [[Angolan Civil War]]. In Angola, the leftist movement [[MPLA]] was fighting the rightist movement [[UNITA]], which was supported by [[South Africa]]. In Namibia, [[SWAPO]], then being a rebel movement, was fighting for independence from South Africa. As MPLA and SWAPO shared a common ideological ground, and had a common enemy in South Africa, they came to cooperate. The Angolan civil war resulted in a large number of Angolan [[refugees]] coming to Namibia. At its peak in 2001 there were over 30,000 Angolan refugees in Namibia. The calmer situation in Angola has made it possible for many of them to return to their home with the help of [[UNHCR]], and in 2004 only 12,600 remained in Namibia. <ref name="UNHCR">{{cite web | url = http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/statistics/opendoc.pdf?tbl=STATISTICS&id=44e5c7800&page=statistics | title = 2004 UNHCR Statistical Yearbook - Namibia | publisher = United Nations High Commission on Refugees | accessdate = 2006-08-26 }}</ref> Most of them reside in the [[refugee camp]] [[Osire]] north of [[Windhoek]]. [[Image:Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg|thumb|right|100px|[[Democratic Republic of Congo|Congo]]]] === Congo === Along with numerous other African nations, Namibia intervened in the [[Second Congo War]], sending troops in support of the [[Democratic Republic of Congo]]'s president [[Laurent-Désiré Kabila]]. It is not clear why Namibia intervened in the conflict, although it has been suggested that Namibia was interested in Congo's [[natural resources]], especially [[copper]]. {{Fact|date=February 2007}} Namibia's decision to join the conflict resulted in criticism from opposition parties, the public, as well as from within the ruling party [[SWAPO]]. == International disputes == Namibia is involved in several minor [[international dispute]]s.<ref name="CIA">{{cite web | title = CIA - The World Factbook - Namibia | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/wa.html | publisher = [[CIA]] | accessdate = 2006-11-9 }}</ref> * Commission established with [[Botswana]] to resolve small residual disputes along the [[Caprivi Strip]], including the [[Situngu marshlands]] along the [[Linyanti River]] * Botswana residents protest Namibia's planned construction of the [[Okavango]] hydroelectric dam on [[Popa Falls]] * Managed dispute with [[South Africa]] over the location of the boundary in the [[Orange River]] * Dormant dispute remains where [[Botswana]], [[Namibia]], [[Zambia]], and [[Zimbabwe]] boundaries converge * [[Angola]]n rebels and refugees still reside in Namibia. == See also == * [[Diplomatic missions of Namibia]] * [[List of diplomatic missions in Namibia]] == Notes and references == <div class="references-small"> <references/> * {{cite web | title = Bakground Note: Namibia | url = http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5472.htm#foreign | publisher = U.S. Department of State }} </div> {{Foreign relations of Namibia}} {{Africa in topic|Foreign relations of}} [[Category:Foreign relations of Namibia| ]]