International organization where member states address global peace, security, and law; mentioned in coverage of Lebanon, Yemen, Venezuela, and Iran-US tensions.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
May 2024
The Namibian
UN Security Councilissued Resolution 435 calling forwithdrawal of South African forces and transfer of power
Source
“Ultimately, Shoombe and his colleagues were released from custody following the implementation of the United Nations Security Council's Resolution 435, which called for the withdrawal of South African forces from Namibia and the transfer of power to the people of Namibia.”
“Steadily rising in his country's diplomatic service, Eksteen became South Africa's ambassador to the United Nations in New York in 1977 and was in that post when the UN Security Council adopted its Resolution 435 in 1978 – a key event that put in place the international plan eventually implemented, more than a decade later, to achieve Namibia's independence.”
As a US deadline looms for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, new strikes rocked Tehran with both sides rejecting an international ceasefire proposal. President Trump has warned of "complete demolition" of Iranian infrastructure if the deadline is not met, while Iran's military dismissed his threats and Iranian officials reject demands to end their control of the strategic chokepoint.
As a US deadline looms for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, new strikes rocked Tehran with both sides rejecting an international ceasefire proposal. President Trump has warned of "complete demolition" of Iranian infrastructure if the deadline is not met, while Iran's military dismissed his threats and Iranian officials reject demands to end their control of the strategic chokepoint.
Israel's defence minister announced that after the war with Hezbollah ends, Israel will maintain military control over a swath of southern Lebanon extending to the Litani River, and will demolish houses in border villages. Lebanon's government and international critics including the UN, Canada, and European nations have condemned the plan as an illegal occupation and collective punishment.
The United Nations General Assembly voted 123-3 to declare the enslavement of Africans during the transatlantic slave trade as "the gravest crime against humanity", urging member states to consider apologizing and contributing to a reparations fund. The UK, US, and other nations opposed or abstained, citing concerns about legal precedent and the responsibility of modern institutions for historical wrongs.
Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa met with Iran's ambassador to Namibia and condemned the US-backed Israeli military operation against Iran. Namibia's government also issued a statement expressing grave concern about the escalation in the Middle East, citing risks to international peace and security.
An opinion piece argues that geopolitical tensions—including Germany's support for Israel and Namibia's backing of Palestinian statehood—have hindered negotiations for reparations over the 1904–1908 genocide of Ovaherero and Nama. The author calls for Namibia to strengthen its negotiating position by unifying internally, centering victim communities' voices, and demanding legal recognition and direct reparations.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah will attend the 39th African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa on 14–15 February 2026, where leaders will discuss peace, security, Agenda 2063, and launch the AU's 2026 Theme on water security and sanitation. Namibia is also pursuing bilateral engagements with regional and international partners to advance development and investment priorities.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah will attend the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly in Addis Ababa on 14–15 February, where she will focus on peace and security, Agenda 2063 progress, UN Security Council reform, and sustainable water and sanitation systems for 2030. She will also participate in a high-level discussion with Africa's female presidents and hold bilateral meetings with continental and regional leaders to advance Namibia's economic diplomacy and climate finance priorities.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah will attend the 39th African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government on 14–15 February in Addis Ababa, where leaders will discuss peace and security, institutional reforms, and the 2026 AU theme on water availability and sanitation. Namibia has arranged bilateral engagements with heads of state and development partners to advance development, trade, and investment priorities.
The UN Security Council voted on Tuesday to terminate UNMHA, a mission that enforced a ceasefire in Yemen's port city of Hodeida, with the mandate ending by 31 March after six years. The US cited Houthi obstructionism as the reason, while Denmark noted that the Houthis' arbitrary detention of UN personnel had narrowed the operating environment, though the mission had previously served as a stabilising presence in the conflict between the Iran-backed Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition-backed government.
US President Donald Trump withdrew an invitation for Canada to join his newly established 'Board of Peace' international organization, following tensions with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney over economic coercion and global power dynamics. Canada had indicated willingness to join but declined to pay a proposed $1 billion membership fee for permanent members.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres told the BBC that the United States acts with impunity and believes its power matters more than international law, viewing multilateral solutions as irrelevant. Guterres warned that the UN's founding principles, including member state equality, are under threat, and called for reform of the Security Council to regain legitimacy and limit veto powers that he says are used to block global efforts.
An opinion piece by a retired major general argues that a large-scale US military strike against Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro violates Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, which prohibits the threat or use of force against another state's territorial integrity without UN Security Council authorization or self-defence justification. The author contends that while sitting heads of state enjoy immunity from foreign jurisdiction under international law, the US can still prosecute Maduro under domestic law via the Ker-Frisbie Doctrine if he is brought to American soil.
A social justice scholar argues that the US bombing and kidnapping of Venezuelan President Maduro breaches the UN Charter and sets a dangerous precedent for sovereign nations, particularly in the global South. He contends the military action was justified by false pretexts about drug trafficking when the real motive is access to Venezuela's oil reserves, and warns that Namibia faces similar risks given its recent oil discoveries.
Deposed Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro faced his first US court appearance days after being seized in a shock US military operation in Caracas. Trump said the US "needs total access" to Venezuela's oil, while interim leader Delcy Rodriguez offered to cooperate with Washington, though some opposition figures said the move fell short without political prisoner releases and recognition of the 2024 election results.
Namibia's Ministry of International Relations and Trade expressed shock at the reported capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife by US authorities on 3 January 2026, calling it a violation of Venezuela's sovereignty and international law. The ministry reaffirmed solidarity with Venezuela and called on the international community to prioritise dialogue and diplomacy, supporting a UN Security Council session to address the situation.