Namibia–Turkey relations

Namibia's struggle for independence from South Africa led to extensive Turkish diplomatic efforts as the co-sponsor^[1] from the Western Contact Group and founding member of the UN Council for Namibia, that called for Namibian independence.

Namibia — or known as South West Africa before independence — was the last African colony.^[2] South West Africa had been a German colony that was granted to South Africa under a League of Nations mandate in 1920, following Germany’s defeat in World War I.^[2] The mandate forbade South Africa from annexing South West Africa but South Africa continued its rule even after UN General Assembly voted^[3] to revoke the League of Nations mandate on August 26, 1966.^[2]

Turkey continued to advocate on behalf of Namibia's independence but many countries baulked^[3] at supporting the country's movement under Sam Nujoma that allied with the Soviet Union and started sending young men to the Soviet Union for training in preparation for guerrilla warfare.^[2] Guerrilla warfare began 1966 but was marginal until Communist-led MPLA took over Angola in 1975.^[4] Nevertheless, South Africa succeeded in driving off the guerillas.^[4]

The diplomatic breakthrough came with the election^[5] of Jimmy Carter, who came to support^[6] the Western Contact Group and worked to negotiate peace in Namibia.^[6] In 1978, South Africa and Western Contact Group created a plan for holding elections that would lead to Namibian independence in 1990.^{[citation needed]}

Namibia–Turkey relations

Diplomatic relations

Economic relations

Postage stamps

Resident diplomatic missions

See also

References

Further reading

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