Namibia's Foreign Relations
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Namibia is neither geographically nor politically an island or otherwise isolated, but rather an integral part of the southern African region, an active member of the African Union, and a sovereign member state within the international community. Namibia has always been embedded Relations Namibia’s Foreign in social, historic, economic and political relations and interactions with its neighbours in the region and beyond. Due to the small size of its population and its economy, Namibia has always depended on its vital bonds with other countries in the region, but also in the global community. Namibia’s foreign relations and their prudent formulation and management determine the sustainability of the country and the economic perspectives of its people. Foreign affairs have an impact on every person’s life. Namibia’s After more than two decades of statehood, and given the transformations of the geopolitical order since then, but also considering the grave impact of the globalisation dynamics on the degree of political and economic interdependencies and vulnerabilities, it is relevant to ask Foreign Relations how Namibia has been managing these foreign and international relations. Such an assessment is essential for reflecting on the country’s foreign relations and adjusting them, where necessary, in order to gain Historic contexts, current dimensions, a perspective of prosperity for the 21st Century. and perspectives for the 21st Century In 20 chapters, Namibia’s main bilateral and multilateral relationships, the historic and normative foundations of those bonds, their strategic objectives and interests, and their interface with other policy fields are critically discussed. The collective effort of this book brings together, for the first time, academicians, diplomats and policymakers from within and beyond Namibia with the purpose of offering a systematic understanding of some of the most significant dimensions of the and Dennis U Zaire Edited by Anton Bösl, André du Pisani country’s foreign relations. It is envisaged that this scholarly publication will deepen the understanding of Namibia’s international and foreign relations, stimulate research, and open up the broad public discourse in order to promote Namibia’s contribution to the global common good and the country’s role in the world. MACMILLAN Edited by Anton Bösl, André du Pisani and Dennis U Zaire EDUCATION NAMIBIA This publication would not have been possible without the generous financial support of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. Please note that the views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation or of the editors. Konrad Adenauer Foundation Konrad PO Box 1145 Adenauer Windhoek [email protected] Stiftung www.kas.de/namibia © Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and the authors, 2014 All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with written permission. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. Cover design: Red Sky and Anton Bösl Content editors: Anton Bösl, André du Pisani and Dennis U Zaire Language editor: Sandie Fitchat Layout: The Word Factory Printing: John Meinert Printing (Pty) Ltd Publisher Macmillan Education Namibia PO Box 22830 Windhoek Namibia Tel. (+264 61) 232 165 ISBN: 978 99916 2610 9 Namibia’s Foreign Relations Historic contexts, current dimensions, and perspectives for the 21st Century Edited by Anton Bösl, André du Pisani and Dennis U Zaire Macmillan Education Namibia 2014 i ii Contents List of abbreviations .......................................................................................................v About the contributors ..................................................................................................vii INTRODUCTION Namibia’s foreign relations in a changing world – An appraisal ....................................3 Anton Bösl SECTION I HISTORIC AND NORMATIVE ASPECTS Namibian diplomacy before Independence ..................................................................27 Chris Saunders Namibia and the United Nations until 1990 .................................................................37 Dennis U Zaire Germany’s role in Namibia’s independence .................................................................51 Hans-Dietrich Genscher Principles and principals of Namibia’s foreign relations ..............................................59 Peya Mushelenga SECTION II NAMIBIA’S BILATERAL RELATIONS Namibia and Angola: Analysis of a symbiotic relationship ..........................................81 Hidipo Hamutenya Namibia and China: Profile and appraisal of a relationship ....................................... 111 André du Pisani Namibia’s bilateral relations with Germany: A crucial relationship ...........................135 Peter H Katjavivi Unequal but intertwined: Namibia’s bilateral relationship with South Africa ............169 Tjiurimo Alfredo Hengari and Chris Saunders From confrontation to pragmatic cooperation: United States of America– Namibia relations .............................................................................................181 iii Contents William A Lindeke SECTION III NAMIBIA’S MULTILATERAL RELATIONS Namibia and the Southern African Customs Union .................................................... 211 Gerhard Erasmus Namibia and the Southern African Development Community ...................................231 Kaire M Mbuende Namibia and the African Union ..................................................................................253 Bience Gawanas The European Union: Relations with Namibia ...........................................................281 Raúl Fuentes Milani The United Nations and Namibia since 1990 .............................................................293 Kari Egge SECTION IV NAMIBIA’S FOREIGN RELATIONS IN PERSPECTIVE The legal dimension of Namibia’s foreign relations ...................................................317 Sacky Shanghala The parliamentary dimension of Namibia’s foreign relations ....................................343 Nora Schimming-Chase Namibia’s foreign relations and security policy: Exploration of a critical nexus .......367 André du Pisani Beyond economic diplomacy: The interface of Namibia’s foreign relations and economic cooperation ..........................................................................................393 Lesley Blaauw Namibia’s attitudes towards pan-Africanism ..............................................................413 Joseph Diescho Namibia: Global governance matters ..........................................................................435 Henning Melber iv List of abbreviations ACP African, Caribbean and Pacific (countries) AGOA African Growth and Opportunity Act ANC African National Congress APRM African Peer Review Mechanism APSA African Peace and Security Architecture AU African Union BCLME Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem BLNS Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland CARMMA Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa CBNRM community-based natural resource management CET common external tariff CIF Construction Industries Federation of Namibia CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora CPC Communist Party of China DRC Democratic Republic of the Congo EDF European Development Fund EEAS European External Action Service EPA Economic Partnership Agreement EU European Union FAPLA Forças Armadas Populares de Libertação de Angola (People’s Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola) FATF Financial Action Task Force FDI foreign direct investment FLS Frontline States FNLA Frente Nacional de Libertação de Angola (National Front for the Liberation of Angola) FOCAC Forum on China–Africa Cooperation FTA Free Trade Area GATT General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade HOSEB Heads of State Economic Bilateral Meeting ICC International Criminal Court ICJ International Court of Justice ISRI Instituto Superior de Relações Internacionais (Higher Institute for International Relations) JCC Joint Commission of Cooperation JTC Joint Technical Commission MCA Millennium Challenge Account MDG Millennium Development Goal MFN most favoured nation iv v List of abbreviations MOU Memorandum of Understanding MPLA Movimiento Popular para la Liberacão de Angola (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) NAM Non-aligned Movement NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization NDF Namibian Defence Force NEPAD New Partnership for Africa’s Development NGSIP Namibian–German Special Initiative Programme NPC National Planning Commission OAU Organisation of African Unity ODA official development assistance/aid OPDS Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation PEPFAR President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief PRC People’s Republic of China PSC Peace and Security Council REC regional economic community RPRP Rural Poverty Reduction Programme SADC Southern African Development Community SACU Southern African Customs Union SPTTP Special Preferential Tariff Treatment Programme SWANU South West African National Union SWAPO South West Africa People’s Organisation TDCA Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement TEU Treaty of European Union UN United Nations UNGA United Nations General Assembly UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNITA União Nacional para a Independência Total de Angola