The San, Bushman and Hottentots are generally assumed to be the earliest inhabitants of present-day Namibia. Later inhabitants include the Nama and the Damara or Berg Dama. The Bantu-speaking Ovambo and Herero migrate from the north in about the 14th century. In 1842 German missionaries start their work. Britain founds in 1878 the settlement of Walvis Bay and adds it to the Cape Colony. Germany establishes in 1884 the protecorate of German South West Africa. In World War I, in 1915, South Africa occupies German South West Africa. South West Africa becomes in 1920 a League of Nations Trust Territory, administered by South Africa, later continued as a United Nations mandate. South Africa refuses in 1946 UN requests to place the territory under a trusteeship agreement and in 1954 it officially proclaims that South West Africa and South Africa is one political entity. The mandidate is revoked by the United Nations in 1966 but South Africa continues to exercise de facto authority. Since 1956 the South West Africa People's Organization leads the resistance against South-African rule, in part from bases abroad. According to a International Court of Justice ruling in 1971 rules that the South African presence in Namibia is illegal and that South Africa therefore is obligated to withdraw its administration from Namibia immediately.

South Africa organizes unilaterally elections which are boycotted by SWAPO and a few other political parties. South Africa continues to administer the area through its installed multiracial coalitions based on the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA). In 1988 South Africa agrees to withdraw its troops and from 1989 the territory's transition to independence starts. Special representative Martti Ahtisaari becomes head of the UN Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG). During transition political prisoners are granted amnesty, discriminatory legislation is repealed, South Africa withdraws all its forces and some 42,000 refugees return safely and voluntarily. In 1989 elections for a Constituent Assembly are geald, which give the SWAPO an absolute majority.

The country becomes independent as the Republic of Namibia in 1990. Namibia becomes a multiparty, multiracial democracy, in wich other parties than SWAPO doesnt seem to have a fair chance at elections. SWAPO leader Sam Nujoma becomes president and is reelected in 1994. In 1994 the coastal enclave of Walvis Bay and 12 offshore islands are transferred to Namibia by South Africa. Nujoma is reelected in 1999 and SWAP remains the dominant pary. That year the Congress of Democrats becomes the leading opposition party.