Africa > Facts > Namibia
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Background: |
South Africa occupied the German colony of South-West Africa during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War II, when it annexed the territory. In 1966 the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organization (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 UN peace plan for the entire region. Namibia won its independence in 1990 and has been governed by SWAPO since. Hifikepunye POHAMBA was elected president in November 2004 in a landslide victory replacing Sam NUJOMA who led the country during its first 14 years of self rule. |
Location: |
Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa |
Geographic coordinates: |
22 00 S, 17 00 E |
Map references: |
Africa |
Area: |
total: 825,418 sq km
land: 825,418 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative: |
slightly more than half the size of Alaska |
Population: |
2,030,692 (July 2005 est.) |
Source: The CIA World Factbook
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