Briefing Paper

The Transitional Government in Namibia: The Quest for Legitimacy

“Despite all attempts by the South African Government over the last decade to enhance the legitimacy of the various transitional arrangements, Pretoria cannot on its own transfer legitimacy to a successor government in Windhoek. Namibian independence will only be internationally recognised if all parties, including SWAPO and the United Nations, play a role in the process leading up to such independence.”