Niël Terblanché
Namibia like many other countries around the globe commemorated the 75th anniversary of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers on Monday.
President Hage Geingob while paying tribute to United Nations Peacekeepers, acknowledged the instrumental role peacekeeping personnel from other countries played in Namibia’s transition to independence.
In his message on the day that was presented under the theme of ‘Peace begins with me’, President Geingob called for global unity in the pursuit of peace.
“Anniversaries are a reminder of the paths we have travelled and the lessons we have learned as a nation. Particularly in this the Year of Revival, anniversaries are a remarkable opportunity not only for introspection but equally for an appreciation of the present and making ready for an ideal future,” he said.
Geingob said this year’s theme compels all Namibians to join the global movement for peace while recognizing the service and sacrifice of peacekeepers, past and present.
“On this day, we reflect on the role played by the United Nations Peacekeeping personnel in ensuring the peace that we enjoy today,” he said.
The President said that Namibia is a child of international solidarity, midwifed by the United Nations.
“Our struggle for the liberation of Namibia was strongly supported by the international community,” he said.
Geingob said that after the launch of armed national resistance in 1966, which saw the loss of thousands of Namibian lives, the UN Security Council, in 1976, for the first time demanded that the apartheid Government accepts elections for the territory under the United Nations supervision and control.
“In 1978 a Settlement Proposal was agreed upon and set in motion by then Secretary General, Kurt Waldheim, who was also responsible for the appointment of Special Representative, Martii Ahtisaari, to assist him in facilitating and supervising the political process,” he said.
In April 1989, the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) was deployed to Namibia to monitor the peace process as well as to ensure that the elections in the lead-up to independence are free and fair.
“At its height, nearly 7 000 men and women – civilians, police, military – from more than 120 countries were deployed in Namibia to assist in our transition to independence. Therefore, Namibia’s transition to independence benefitted immensely from UNTAG,” he said.
According to the President, Namibia is regarded today as one of the most peaceful democracies and lauded as an example of successful United Nations Peacekeeping. In 2022, Namibia moved up seven places on the Global Peace Index and is now regarded as the 43rd most peaceful country out of 186 countries.
“Indeed, the foundations for an inclusive society and politically stable country can be attested in part to the work of the UN Peacekeepers. To them, we owe our deepest gratitude for their selfless sacrifice and role in moulding an independent nation,” he said.
He said Namibia joined the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres and the United Nations family at large in honouring the blue helmets in UN Peacekeeping for 75 years of outstanding service in favour of peaceful humanity.
