Namibia

[ nuh-mib-ee-uh ]

noun

1. a republic in southwestern Africa: a former German protectorate; a mandate of South Africa 1920–66; gained independence 1990. 318,261 sq. mi. (824,296 sq. km). : Windhoek.

Namibia

/ nɑːˈmɪbɪə; nə- /

noun

1. a country in southern Africa bordering on South Africa: annexed by Germany in 1884 and mandated by the League of Nations to South Africa in 1920. The mandate was terminated by the UN in 1966 but this was ignored by South Africa, as was the 1971 ruling by the International Court of Justice that the territory be surrendered. Independence was achieved in 1990 and Namibia became a member of the Commonwealth; Walvis Bay remained a South African enclave until 1994, when it was returned to Namibia. Official language: English; Afrikaans and German also spoken. Religion: mostly animist, with some Christians. Currency: dollar. Capital: Windhoek. Pop: 2 182 852 (2013 est). Area: 823 328 sq km (317 887 sq miles) Also calledSouth West Africa Former name (1885–1919)German Southwest Africa

Namibia

1. Country in southwestern Africa , bordered by Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east, South Africa to the south and southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west; formerly called South West Africa.

Notes

In 1920, South Africa began administering South West Africa under authority of the League of Nations , and in 1971, it rejected the demands of the General Assembly of the United Nations that it withdraw. A nationalist group, the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), waged guerrilla warfare in an attempt to force South Africa out of Namibia. A U.S.-mediated settlement ended the civil war in 1988. In 1990, Namibia became an independent nation.

Other Words From

• Na·mib·i·an adjective noun

Example Sentences

Prince William says he is taking his environmental prize back to its African roots - as a visit to Namibia had been the "founding inspiration" and the "birthplace" of the awards.

From BBC

Police in Namibia are investigating the death of four children who were playing in an empty old freezer in the north-eastern Zambezi Region.

From BBC

The galaxy can only be seen from the southern hemisphere, so the photographers travelled to Namibia to capture the image.

From BBC

Key could perhaps coax an extra two years out of McCullum, through to the home Ashes in 2027 and the next 50-over World Cup that immediately follows in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

From BBC

In the southeastern nation of Namibia, nearly half of the 2.5 million citizens are grappling with food insecurity, with 84 percent of its food reserves being exhausted.

From Salon