The Republic of Namibia

The country of Namibia is on the southwest coast of Africa borders South Africa to the south, Botswana to the east and Angola to the north. From its northeastern corner, the narrow Caprivi Strip extends its territory eastward as far as Zambia. The main port, Walvis Bay, is jointly administered with South Africa.

The sand dunes of the Namib Desert extend from the coast toward the foot of the Great Escarpment that rims the great central plateau. The mountains of the escarpment are highest in the central portion around the capital, Windhoek. The plateau itself occupies the eastern part of the country, and is covered by the dry scrub of the Kalahari Desert. The climate is generally hot and very dry. Seasonal rainfall is largely confined to the north. The Namib Desert supports little vegetation apart from succulents and the extraordinary welwitschia plant, which absorbs moisture from the fog that rolls in from the sea. The welwitschia, often described as a living fossil, can survive to a great age; some specimens are thought to be up to 2,000 years old.

Inland areas are less barren, however, with many drought-resistant grasses and shrubs, and savanna woodland in the extreme north. The rich wildlife is typical of southern Africa, and includes baboons, kudu antelopes, elephants, giraffes, zebras, lions and flamingoes. The Etosha National Park is among the world's largest game parks.

South West Africa, as Namibia was formerly known, became a German protectorate in 1884. During World War I it was occupied by South Africa, to which it was mandated in 1920 by the League of Nations as a trust territory. In 1946 it came under the United Nations trusteeship system, despite South Africa's stated intention to annex the country. In 1966 the United Nations called for total South African withdrawal, and the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) began a lengthy guerrilla war against the continuing South African occupation. Free elections in 1989 brought SWAPO to power, and independence followed soon afterward in 1990.

The multiparty government is headed by a president, who is accountable to a two-chamber parliament. Both the president and the lower house are directly elected every five years. Namibia is still largely economically dependent on South Africa, with which it remains in customs union; but it is gradually becoming more independent. The two oldest racial groups are the desert-dwelling San (Bushmen) and Nama (Hottentots). Bantu peoples include the Kavango and the Ovambo - the largest ethnic group, who occupy the more populated northern areas. Europeans are mainly confined to the towns; Afrikaans and English are the two official languages, but German is spoken by a large number of people. Christianity is the dominant religion.

Most people work on the land, but the soils and climate do not favor agriculture. About half Namibia's food is imported, largely from South Africa. Livestock farming is the chief activity, producing mainly beef, mutton and karakul (Persian lamb) pelts. The once-prosperous offshore fishing industry is gradually recovering from overfishing in the 1970s.

Mineral resources include diamonds, gold and various metal ores, including uranium dioxide. Copper and lead are smelted at Tsumeb in the north of the country, but other minerals are exported unprocessed. Namibia depends on South Africa for fuel and manufactured goods. Its own industries are limited to food processing. The road and rail networks, though expanding, are still largely confined to the south, so that local air services are vital; there is an international airport at Windhoek. Healthcare services are concentrated in a few large hospitals. Major diseases include tuberculosis, measles and malaria. Primary education is compulsory, but literacy is low outside the white community; skilled training must be sought in South Africa.