Namibia: Location, History, Size, Population, & Government

About Namibia formerly South-West Africa, information, history size, location, population, people, culture, and government.

Namibia (formerly South-West Africa)

Size--318,261 sq. mi. (824,296 sq. km.). Population--800,000.

South African forces conquered the German colony of South-West Africa in 1915 and, under the Treaty of Versailles, the territory was given over to South Africa as a mandate. In 1969, despite objections from the UN, South Africa incorporated the area as a colony. Since then South Africa has ignored international pressure including condemnation by the World Court and a Security Council endorsement of independence for Namibia. Namibia has great potential wealth including one of the world's richest offshore diamond beds. The South African rock lobster, which costs a fortune in American restaurants, is caught off the coast of Namibia. The U.S. buys a large portion of the lobster catch, and the U.S. also buys most of Namibia's karakul pelts (the skins of newborn lambs--so-called Persian lamb).