SWAPO

The Namibian liberation movement, founded in 1960, governing since independence in 1990.

Overview

SWAPO, the South West Africa People Organization, organized contract worker and exile politics from 1960 under Sam Nujoma, launching armed struggle in 1966 against South African rule after the UN mandate revocation. The 1988 settlement brought the 1989 election and 1990 independence, Nujoma president for three terms, succeeded by Pohamba, Geingob, and Nangolo Mbumba. SWAPO has won two thirds majorities in every election, a dominant party democracy with internal succession politics. Hage Geingob death in 2024 passed power smoothly. The party runs a liberation legitimacy consensus over a resource economy, member of the southern African liberation party family.