Africa
Highlights - Essential Info - Itineraries - History
It was towards the end of the 19th Century that the bulk of Namibia, formerly named South West Africa, was annexed by the Germans who quelled several violent rebellions from different tribes.
The Germans remained in the country until their surrender during the 1st World War to a South African force. South Africa was given a mandate to rule the colony and continued to do so until 1990 when independence was achieved. During the 1940's and 1950's South Africa tightened its grip on the country on account of its rich mineral deposits and a form of apartheid was introduced.
It was only in the late 1950's and 1960's that political parties and trade unions were formed and a surging growth in nationalism emerged. Years of terrorism followed until the economy became so depressed that South Africa was forced into negotiations, which resulted in a Constitution being adopted in 1990, followed swiftly by the inauguration of Sam Nujoma as Namibia's first President. Since then, the country has become a peaceful and prosperous nation with a strong economy based on the mining of diamonds, uranium and other minerals.
