This post is part of our Global Legal Collection Highlights series in which we provide information on some of the foreign law materials available to researchers at the Library of Congress.
March 21, 2015, marks the 25th anniversary of Namibia’s independence. Namibia, which gained its independence on March 21, 1990, is Africa’s third-youngest nation next to South Sudan (2011) and Eritrea (1993). Namibia was colonized and occupied by foreign powers for over a century: First by Germany (1884-1915, during which it was known as German South-West Africa) and then by South Africa (1915-1989). The South African occupation was initially legitimate, having occurred under a League of Nations mandate. However, when the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) terminated this mandate in 1966, South Africa continued its occupation. During the South African occupation the country continued to be called South-West Africa, despite the fact that, in 1968, the UNGA changed its name to Namibia.
German Rule
The German colonial period, while relatively short, was marred with brutality. Although representatives of its interests arrived earlier, Germany formally announced that the territory that later became Namibia was under its protection in 1884. Soon after, through an 1886 treaty