SWAPO
The South West Africa People's Organisation (/ˈswɑːpoʊ/, SWAPO; Afrikaans: Suidwes-Afrikaanse Volks Organisasie, SWAVO; German: Südwestafrikanische Volksorganisation, SWAVO), officially known as the SWAPO Party of Namibia, is a political party and former independence movement in Namibia. Founded in 1960, it has been the governing party in Namibia since the country achieved independence in 1990. The party continues to be dominated in number and influence by the Ovambo ethnic group.
| Abbreviation | SWAPO |
|---|---|
| President | Vacant |
| Vice President | Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah |
| Secretary-General | Sophia Shaningwa |
| Vice Secretary-General | Nangolo Mbumba |
| Founders | Andimba Toivo ya Toivo Sam Nujoma Jacob Kuhangua Louis Nelengani Lucas Nepela |
| Founded | 19 April 1960 |
| Preceded by | Ovamboland People's Organization (OPO) |
| Headquarters | Erf 2464 Hans-Dietrich Genscher Street Katutura Windhoek Khomas Region |
| Newspaper | Namibia Today (1960–2015) |
| Youth wing | SWAPO Party Youth League |
| Paramilitary wing | People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) |
| Ideology | Since 2017: Socialism with Namibian characteristics 1990–2017: Social democracy Statism 1960–1990: Socialism Marxism–Leninism |
| Political position | Centre-left to left-wing |
| International affiliation | Socialist International |
| African affiliation | Former Liberation Movements of Southern Africa |
| Colours | Red (primary) Blue, Green (customary) |
| Seats in the National Assembly | 63 / 96 |
| Seats in the National Council | 28 / 42 |
| Regional Councillors | 88 / 121 |
| Local Councillors | 277 / 378 |
| Pan-African Parliament | 4 / 5 |
| Party flag | |
| Website | |
| www | |
SWAPO held a two-thirds majority in parliament from 1994 to 2019. In the general election held in November 2019, the party won 65.5% of the popular vote and 63 out of the 104 seats in the National Assembly. It also holds 28 out of the 42 seats in the National Council. From November 2017 until his death in February 2024, Namibian President Hage Geingob has been the president of SWAPO after being elected to the position at the party's electoral congress.