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eventREF E-0148894Verified

Event record

South West African People's Organisation (SWAPO) is founded to oppose South African rule

Updated
22 Aug 2019
South West African People's Organisation (SWAPO) is founded to oppose South African rule

The South West African People's Organisation (SWAPO) was founded in Windhoek, South West Africa (presently Namibia) on 19 April 1960 by Herman Toivo Ya Toivo. The party was originally formed to advocated immediate Namibian independence from South Africa and became the country's leading party following independence in 1990. SWAPO, led by one of its co-founders Sam Nujoma, began attacking the South African regime. It was essentially a military organisation, using guerrilla tactics to fight the South African forces. In 1966 SWAPO was recognised by the United Nations as the legitimate government of Namibia. SWAPO won the first independent election in 1989 and Sam Nujoma became the first president of Namibia.

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Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2019, August 22). South West African People's Organisation (SWAPO) is founded to oppose South African rule. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0148894

South African History Online (2019) 'South West African People's Organisation (SWAPO) is founded to oppose South African rule', South African History Online, 22 August. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0148894 (Accessed: 10 September 2026).

South African History Online, South West African People's Organisation (SWAPO) is founded to oppose South African rule [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0148894, (accessed 10 September 2026).

"South West African People's Organisation (SWAPO) is founded to oppose South African rule." South African History Online, 22 Aug. 2019, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0148894. Accessed 10 Sept. 2026.

South African History Online. "South West African People's Organisation (SWAPO) is founded to oppose South African rule." South African History Online. August 22, 2019. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0148894.

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