South West African People’s Organisation (SWAPO) is founded to oppose South African rule

Date: 19 Apr 1960
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

The South West African People's Organisation (SWAPO) was founded in Windhoek, South West Africa (presently Namibia) on 19 April 1960 by Herman Toivo Ya Toivo. The party was originally formed to advocated immediate Namibian independence from South Africa and became the country's leading party following independence in 1990. SWAPO, led by one of its co-founders Sam Nujoma, began attacking the South African regime. It was essentially a military organisation, using guerrilla tactics to fight the South African forces. In 1966 SWAPO was recognised by the United Nations as the legitimate government of Namibia. SWAPO won the first independent election in 1989 and Sam Nujoma became the first president of Namibia.

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01Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau.
02Encyclopedia Britannica, (2013), 'South West Africa People's Organization', from Encyclopedia Britannica, 04 April [online], Available at britannica.com [Accessed: 22 May 2014]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). South West African People’s Organisation (SWAPO) is founded to oppose South African rule. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011896

South African History Online (2011) 'South West African People’s Organisation (SWAPO) is founded to oppose South African rule', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011896 (Accessed: 18 August 2026).

South African History Online, South West African People’s Organisation (SWAPO) is founded to oppose South African rule [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011896, (accessed 18 August 2026).

"South West African People’s Organisation (SWAPO) is founded to oppose South African rule." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011896. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "South West African People’s Organisation (SWAPO) is founded to oppose South African rule." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011896.