European Uniontriggered an internal legislative procedure expected to lead toNamibia's removal from EU's AML/CTF List by end of year
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“Twaku Kayofa, communications officer at the EU, explained that the EU Delegation wishes to clarify that FATF's delisting of Namibia triggered an EU internal legislative procedure that is expected to lead to Namibia's removal from the EU's own AML/CTF List by the end of the year, following a vote in the European Parliament.”
The European Unioncongratulated Namibia onits removal from the FATF grey list in June 2026
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“The European Union congratulated Namibia on its removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in June 2026, recognising the significant progress made in strengthening the integrity of the country's financial system.”
The EUhas supportedcapacity building to over 150 officials across law enforcement and justice institutions through specialised trainings
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“The EU supported capacity building to over 150 officials across law enforcement and justice institutions, through more than ten specialised trainings, with six more sessions planned this year alone.”
European Unionkepteight African countries including Namibia on high-risk jurisdictions list
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“THE European Union has kept eight African countries, including Namibia, on its latest list of high-risk jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies in their anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT) frameworks.”
European Unionsays the designation is based onidentified weaknesses in countries' systems for preventing money laundering and terrorist financing
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“The EU says the designation is based on identified weaknesses in countries' systems for preventing money laundering, terrorist financing and related financial crimes, and is intended to protect the integrity of the European financial system.”
European Unionsupportsa N$400 million livestock development programme
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“The Equalisation Fund forms part of a broader N$400 million government and European Union-supported livestock development programme aimed at improving infrastructure, market access, and efficiency across the sector.”
European Unionis identified asmajor international buyer of Namibian beef
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“The minister cautioned that, should the line be removed without equivalent safeguards, Namibia's major international buyers, including the European Union, the United States, China and Norway, would be forced to immediately halt the country's beef imports.”
The Synapse project of the European Unionseeks to equipmore than 2,500 young people with critical skills
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“The Synapse project of the European Union (EU), and co-funded under the Erasmus+ programme, seeks to equip more than 2 500 young people, including women, youth from rural communities, and those living with disabilities with skills.”
The European Unionofficially agreed to extendthe EU–Namibia Strategic Partnership Roadmap until 2030
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“THE Delegation of the European Union (EU) and the Namibian Government have officially agreed to extend the EU–Namibia Strategic Partnership Roadmap until 2030.”
South Africa exported agricultural products worth US$1.2 billion to Zimbabwe in 2025, representing about 8% of South Africa's agricultural exports and making Zimbabwe the country's second-largest agricultural export market after the Netherlands, according to World Bank data and discussions at the South Africa–Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission Business Forum.
South Africa exported agricultural products worth US$1.2 billion to Zimbabwe in 2025, representing about 8% of South Africa's agricultural exports and making Zimbabwe the country's second-largest agricultural export market after the Netherlands, according to World Bank data and discussions at the South Africa–Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission Business Forum.
Thirty-eight Namibian students have left for universities across Europe under the EU's Erasmus+ programme, with the European Union fully funding their studies.
The Electricity Control Board, with EU support, has launched the Embedded Generation Application Platform to streamline applications for embedded generation systems below 500 kilovolt-amperes. The ECB CEO described the platform as part of Namibia's fundamental electricity sector transformation, reflecting growing confidence in the country's energy future and supporting national goals for energy security and diversification.
Iceland has voted against resuming talks on joining the European Union, 13 years after they were halted. According to public broadcaster RUV, 52.8% of 225,031 voters rejected the move.
A Windhoek Observer opinion piece argues that Namibian farmers face inherent disadvantages—vast distances, limited arable land, variable rainfall, and high input costs—that make them uncompetitive against subsidised regional and international producers, and calls for a deliberate national subsidy strategy rather than fragmented support.
Namibian livestock producers supplying EU markets faced inspection suspensions when the Directorate of Veterinary Services' operational budget was exhausted. A temporary arrangement now allows producers to cover travel and related costs of state veterinarians conducting required EU certification inspections, channelled through the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia.
Botswana is intensifying efforts to contain foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) following outbreaks that raise concerns for cross-border animal health and livestock trade in the region, including Namibia. Botswana's agriculture minister said the disease has placed pressure on rural livelihoods, the livestock industry and the economy, while noting Botswana has historically managed to control FMD and maintain World Organisation for Animal Health recognition for zones free from the disease without vaccination.
Namibia's livestock export industry faced pressure when the Directorate of Veterinary Services suspended annual EU certification inspections due to budget exhaustion, risking producers' access to export markets; a temporary arrangement was reached with producers covering state veterinarian travel costs during the interim period.
The European Union announced in May a partnership with London-listed mining company Andrada to fund a N$74-million lithium extraction pilot project at Andrada's Uis mine in Erongo. The project, called ProLith, aims to test whether petalite—a lithium-containing mineral found at Uis—can be cost-efficiently processed into lithium for electric vehicle batteries using an alkaline leeching process that requires less energy than traditional spodumene processing.
An opinion piece argues that Namibia's strategic partnerships with the European Union and China should be built on the plover-and-crocodile principle: mutual honesty about needs and measurable benefits for both parties, with the smaller partner's gains as visible as the larger one's.
Namibia's economy is heavily dependent on products from the Erongo region, with 80% of exports by value comprising just four products, two produced there. Economist Robin Sherbourne notes that uranium and gold have become key sectors replacing diamonds, and says the country needs economic diversification, particularly through development of Walvis Bay as an oil and gas hub.
Twenty-five US states have sued the Trump administration over tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on goods from 60 trading partners, including the UK, China, and the European Union, imposed in July citing forced labour concerns. The coalition of Democratic states argues the tariffs are "arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to law," while the White House defends the duties as lawful action against unreasonable trade practices.
The Agriculture Minister said Meatco remained profitable despite droughts and low cattle availability, with throughput south of the Veterinary Cordon Fence declining by 53% to 35,594 cattle. Revenue fell from N$1.865 billion to N$1.108 billion, but the company strengthened its financial position, increased cash reserves, and reduced accumulated losses.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has withdrawn a proposal to allow private investment in the World Cup, which had faced fierce opposition from Uefa, national governments, and continental football bodies. The plan would have sought $4.2 billion from minority investors in Fifa Forward Enterprise while Fifa retained majority control.
Meatco has secured an additional 344,766-kilogram beef export quota to Norway through a quota-sharing arrangement with Botswana under the SACU-EFTA framework, after exhausting its initial 2026 allocation by end of June. The additional allocation is projected to generate N$100 million in export earnings, potentially bringing Meatco's total Norwegian exports for 2026 to N$365 million.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino defended a proposal to create a private subsidiary to exploit World Cup commercial benefits, calling it "an opportunity but not an obligation" and saying it would unlock previously uncaptured value to benefit member associations, though the proposal sparked global outrage after being revealed.
Namibia has secured an additional Norwegian beef quota of 344,766 kilograms through a government-to-government arrangement with Botswana, expected to generate approximately N$100 million in additional revenue. Combined with the initial 2026 allocation, Meatco's projected Norwegian exports for 2026 are valued at approximately N$365 million.
Ambassador Mekondjo Kaapanda-Girnus has been appointed Deputy Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, effective 25 July 2026, becoming the second most senior official at the international body responsible for implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention across 193 member states.
Mekondjo Kaapanda-Girnus, a former ambassador to Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, has been appointed deputy director-general of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the second most senior position in the international body.
Namibia's ministry of international relations and trade has appointed ambassador Mekondjo Kaapanda-Girnus as deputy director-general of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, assuming office on 25 July 2026. Kaapanda-Girnus, who brings more than seventeen years of diplomacy experience and previously served as Namibia's ambassador to Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, becomes the second most senior official of the OPCW.
An opinion piece argues that Walvis Bay's significance lies not in the port itself but in control over maritime trade routes and the geopolitical power that grants—a principle South Africa understood when it retained sovereignty for four years after Namibia's 1990 independence.
Savanna Beef Processors Limited recorded a group loss of N$25.9 million for the financial year ended 28 February 2026 as it commissioned and ramped up its newly completed abattoir and meat processing facility. The operating loss widened to N$30.9 million from N$13.2 million in the previous year, reflecting costs associated with bringing the facility into production.
Savanna Beef Processors Limited reported a group loss of N$25.9 million for the year ended 28 February 2026, with operating losses widening as the company commissioned its newly completed abattoir and meat processing facility. The subsidiary Savanna Beef Operations received its taking-over certificate from the contractor on 29 October 2025, with the total project value amounting to N$436.5 million.
The government is rolling out a N$1.5-billion fencing project in the ||Kharas region to protect Namibia's foot-and-mouth disease-free status as outbreaks spread in South Africa and Botswana. The veterinary fencing aims to strengthen FMD defences, create buffer zones, and protect beef exports to markets like the European Union and China.
The parliament, the National Planning Commission and the European Union have concluded a six-year Enhancing Participatory Democracy in Namibia programme, which invested €6 million (about N$127 million) in strengthening democratic governance, parliamentary oversight and citizen participation since August 2020.
The Lobito Corridor railway, linking mineral-rich DRC regions to Angola's port, is a key development focus for Angola, DRC, Zambia and partners including the US, which committed US$200 billion for infrastructure and pledged to mobilise an additional US$600 billion. The DRC's untapped mineral deposits are valued at over US$24 trillion.
Following Namibia's removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list in June, the EU has initiated an internal legislative procedure expected to result in Namibia's removal from the EU's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CTF) list by the end of the year, subject to a European Parliament vote. The EU clarified that its financial crime monitoring jurisdiction list does not constitute sanctions or restrictions on trade, investment, or development cooperation.
The European Union congratulated Namibia on its removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list in June 2026, recognising progress in strengthening the country's financial system. The EU supported Namibia's implementation of the FATF Action Plan through capacity building to over 150 officials across law enforcement and justice institutions.
The European Union has kept Namibia on its list of high-risk jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing frameworks. The designation requires EU banks and financial institutions to apply enhanced due diligence measures when dealing with individuals, companies and transactions linked to Namibia, and will affect cross-border banking and investment processes.
Namibia aims to increase exports from N$102 billion to over N$168 billion by 2030 through value addition, foreign direct investment, and industrialisation, International Relations Minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi told Polish Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski during bilateral talks in the capital on Wednesday.