‘Free Palestine, Cuba, Western Sahara’   

NEW YORK – Namibia – a child of international solidarity, midwifed by the United Nations – has not forgotten the rights and dignity of oppressed peoples striving for self-determination, freedom and national sovereignty. 

This is because of the crucial global backing and diplomatic framework that guided the nation to its independence. 

This sentiment was vivid when President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah addressed the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday night. 

Nandi-Ndaitwah reaffirmed Namibia’s support for the right to self-determination. 

“Namibia calls for the Palestinian’s right to self-determination, freedom and statehood,” she said. 

She called for an end to the violence in Gaza and said an independent Palestinian state living alongside Israel in peace and security remains a goal that should be pursued. 

She also reaffirmed Namibia’s support for the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination and a UN-backed referendum in Western Sahara. 

Towards the end of her address, Nandi-Ndaitwah joined calls for a woman to become the next UN Secretary-General, noting that no woman has held the position since the organisation was established in 1945.  “Namibia, therefore, believes that it’s time that a woman is elected,” she said. Nandi-Ndaitwah also called for reforms to the international financial architecture to give developing countries greater access to finance and policy space to add value to their natural resources, including critical minerals. 

Nandi-Ndaitwah said countries must be able to derive greater economic benefit from their natural resources instead of remaining dependent on the export of raw materials. 

“As we forge ahead with the SDGs, reform of the international financial architecture is critical to a more equitable and inclusive global economic order,” she said. 

“Such reforms should create greater policy space and access to financing to enable countries to expand their economies through value addition to their natural resources, including critical minerals.” 

She said this would enable countries to ensure that their people benefit directly from their natural resources. 

“For our people to have full benefit of our resources. This will accelerate sustainable development, address inequality, create jobs for our youth and lift our population out of poverty,” she said. 

Nandi-Ndaitwah said middle-income countries continue to face high borrowing costs, limited fiscal space, debt vulnerabilities, climate-related shocks and persistent inequality. 

She welcomed the creation of the African Credit Rating Agency, saying it would contribute to Africa taking greater ownership of its development and prosperity agenda. 

The seasoned diplomat and politician placed the call within a broader appeal for transformation of the global system, including reform of the United Nations Security Council. 

“We need to manage transformation of the United Nations Security Council based on equitable representation in its decision-making process to reflect contemporary geopolitical realities,” she said. 

She said Africa’s common position on Security Council reform had been reaffirmed in the Pact for the Future.  

Nandi-Ndaitwah also called for greater participation of women in decision-making, including in conflict prevention, resolution, reconstruction and peacebuilding. 

Climate finance 

Driving her message home, Nandi-Ndaitwah highlighted Namibia’s vulnerability to climate change despite its low contribution to global emissions. 

“Namibia contributes less than 0.01% of the global greenhouse gas emissions, and it bears a disproportionate share of the impact of climate change,” she said. 

She called for greater responsibility from countries that have contributed the most to global greenhouse gas emissions, including increased support for countries most vulnerable to climate change. 

Nandi-Ndaitwah said sustainable climate financing would be critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal on climate action. 

She also highlighted Namibia’s role in water diplomacy, noting that the country hosts the headquarters of the Global Water Partnership, the first time the organisation is based in the Global South. 

She referred to the high-level event on water investment for Africa and the globe that Namibia co-chaired on the margins of the General Assembly, saying its outcome would contribute to the 2026 UN Water Conference. 

Youth 

Nandi-Ndaitwah said Namibia is preparing its young people for emerging industries, including oil and gas, renewable energy and green hydrogen. 

She said the government had introduced 100% subsidised registration and tuition fees for Namibian students entering universities and vocational training centres. 

She also highlighted the National Youth Development Fund, saying young people had used the fund to establish businesses including medical practices, law firms, milling plants and pottery businesses. 

ljason@nepc.com.na

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