Namibia
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Location:
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Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,
between Angola and South Africa |
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Background:
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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. Independence came in 1990
following multi-party elections and the
establishment of a constitution. President NUJOMA is
currently serving his third term as president. |
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Languages:
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English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of
most of the population and about 60% of the white
population, German 32%, indigenous languages:
Oshivambo, Herero, Nama |
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Exchange rates:
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Namibian dollars per US dollar - 10.54 (2002), 8.61
(2001), 6.94 (2000), 6.11 (1999), 5.53 (1998) |
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