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 Cuba |  Namibia |
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Cuba–Namibia relations are thebilateral relations betweenCuba andNamibia. Both nations are members of theGroup of 77,Non-Aligned Movement and theUnited Nations. The current[update] ambassador of Namibia to Cuba isLebbius Tobias.
In 1884, present-day Namibia was colonized byGermany. AfterWorld War I, with the signing of theTreaty of Versailles, Germany was forced to transfer its territory to theUnion of South Africa in 1920, which at the time was a self-governing dominion of theBritish Empire.[1] Namibia would be calledSouth West Africa for the next 70 years. South West Africa was not allowed to be annexed bySouth Africa, rather it was governed as a mandated territory.
In 1961, South Africa became a republic and continued to govern Namibia under itsApartheid rule. In 1966,SWAPO launched an armed struggle against South African occupation which became known as theSouth African Border War.[1] In 1975,Cuba involved itself in theAngolan Civil War by sending troops in support of the communist-alignedPeople's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) against the pro-westernNational Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). South African forces invaded Angola duringOperation Savannah in support of the UNITA forces. In Angola, Cuban forces increased to 50,000 soldiers and fought along SWAPO soldiers against South African troops.[2]
In December 1988, theTripartite Accord among Angola, Cuba and South Africa was signed at theUnited Nations inNew York City.[3] The accords granted Namibia independence and called for the removal of Cuban troops from Angola. In March 1990, Namibia gained independence from South Africa. Soon afterwards, Cuba and Namibia officially established diplomatic relations and opened resident embassies.[4]
In March 1991, Namibian PresidentSam Nujoma paid an official visit to Cuba and met with PresidentFidel Castro. While in Cuba, both nations signed a protocol agreement.[5] In September 1998, Cuban President Fidel Castro paid an official visit to Namibia and met with President Sam Nujoma.[6] Since then, there have been numerous visits between leaders of both nations. In November 2016, Namibian PresidentHage Geingob paid a visit to Cuba to attend thefuneral of Fidel Castro.[7]
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Cuba has sent hundreds of doctors and other professionals in assist in Namibia's health, construction and educational sectors.[8] In 2020, both nations celebrated 30 years of diplomatic relations.[9]
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