Namibia Defence Force

Namibian Defence Force (NDF)
Founded	21 March 1990 (Namibian Independence)
Headquarters	Windhoek
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief	President Hifikepunye Pohamba
Defence Minister	Charles Namoloh[1]
Chief of Defence Force	Major General Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah[2]
Manpower
Active personnel	c.8,000
Expenditures
Percent of GDP	3.7% (2006 estimate)[1]
Related articles
History	Caprivi Conflict Second Congo War

The Namibia Defence Force was created when South West Africa gained full independence from South Africa in 1989. The new constitution of Namibia defines the role of the military as "defending the territory and national interests."

Namibia's Defence Force comprises two of the former enemies in a 23-year bush war: the Peoples Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) and South West African Territorial Force (SWATF). The British formulated the force integration plan and began training the NDF, which consists of five battalions and a small headquarters element.^[3] The United Nations Transitional Assistance Group (UNTAG)'s Kenyan infantry battalion remained in Namibia for three months after independence to assist in training the NDF and stabilize the north. Martin Shalli and 'Ho Chi Minh' Namholo were involved in the negotiations that allowed the Kenyan infantry battalion to remain for that period.

The main roles of the Namibia Defence Force are to ensure the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country by guarding against external aggression, both conventional and unconventional; prevent violation of Namibia’s territorial integrity; and provide assistance to civil authorities in guarding and protecting government buildings and key installations as provided in the Defence Act.^[4]

According to the Namibian Defence Ministry, enlistments of both men and women will number no more than 7,500. Defence and security account for less than 8% of government spending.^{[citation needed]} In addition to the figures in the infobox, earlier defence spending and percentage of GDP included $90 million in 1997/98, 2.6% of GDP. The 73.1 million figure in 2002 was 2.4% of GDP. These figures are almost certainly CIA World Factbook estimates.

In August 1999, a separatist Lozi faction in the Caprivi Strip launched a coup attempt (see Caprivi conflict) which was summarily put down by the Namibian Defence Force. (Source Lonely Planet). The army has conducted security operations along the northern border with Angola. In the process of these operations, there were allegations in 2001 that the army has tortured people suspected of being UNITA sympathisers.^[5] IRIN reported that the Ministry of Defence had admitted that two Namibian soldiers died fighting suspected UNITA rebels in southern Angola in July 2001.^[6] The Namibian Defence Force assists in putting out wildfires.^[7]

As of 13 October 2010, Sibbinda councillor Felix Mukupi has requested a meeting with the regional army commander in order to request 'the NDF to deploy its troops [on the Namibia/Zambia border area] stretching from Wenela to Kongola' in order to curtail stock thefts by gangs of cattle thieves from Zambia.^[8]

On 24 May 2010, Chen Bingde, Chief of the General Staff Department of the People's Liberation Army and member of the Central Military Commission, met Charles Namoloh and Peter Nambundunga, acting commander of the Namibian Defense Forces, in Windhoek.^[9] At their meeting, the two sides had in-depth discussions on further strengthening exchanges and cooperation between the two armed forces. Chen Binghe was accompanied by the chief of staff of the Second Artillery Corps and two PLA Military Region chiefs of staff. Chen Binghe also met President Pohamba that day.

Chiefs of Defence Staff

The first chief of the NDF was Dimo Hamaambo. He was previously the leader of PLAN, and a survivor of the Battle of Cassinga. Hamaambo was the first to be laid to rest at the Heroes' Acre memorial outside Windhoek, a few days after its official opening in 2002. Solomon Huwala replaced Hamaambo as Chief of the NDF on Hamaambo's retirement. After Huwala retired in October 2006, Martin Shalli headed the NDF.^[10]

President Hifikepunye Pohamba suspended Lieutenant General Martin Shalli from his post as Chief of Defence Force in 2009 over corruption allegations, dating back to the time when Shalli served as Namibia’s High Commissioner to Zambia.^[11]. During the time of the suspension, Peter Nambundunga acted as Chief.^[12] Shalli was eventually forced to retire in January 2011; the post of Chief of the NDF was given to Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah.^[2]

Army

As of 2005, the army of Namibia consisted of:^[13]

• five motorised infantry battalions;
• a Presidential Guard battalion; (21st Guard Battalion(?))
• a combat support battalion;
• a reconnaissance company;
• an engineering company;
• an artillery group (likely to be "4 Arty" at Otjiwarongo)^[14]
• a logistics support brigade.

As of 2008, Jane's reported that the force included:^[15]

• Grootfontein: Army Headquarters and Army HQ Command Company; Combat Support Battalion;
• Rundu: 1 Battalion Headquarters^[16] - Allegedly involved in disappearances, 2000.^[17]
• Mpacha: 2 Battalion Headquarters
• Oshakati: 3 Battalion Headquarters - Danger Ashipala was in command of this battalion as a lieutenant colonel until he retired in 1995.^[18]
• Oamites: 4 Battalion Headquarters

Also in the force is the Fifth Battalion.^[19]

Peter Nambundunga replaced Martin Shalli as Commander of the Army in 2005.^{[citation needed]}

In 2007 the IISS Military Balance said that the MOD planned to build new military bases around the country, including at Luiperdsvallei outside Windhoek, Osana near Okahandja, and Karibib. In that year IISS said the army included six infantry battalions, one anti-tank regiment, one combat support brigade (one artillery regiment), a Presidential Guard of one battalion, and one air defence regiment.^[20]

As of September 2009, the 19th anniversary celebrations, Brigadier General Tomas Hamunyela was listed as the Acting Army Commander. (MOD website)

Army equipment includes:

• Some T-54/55 Soviet Union(x20 deliverd,status unknown)
• T-34 Soviet Union tanks;^[21]
• WZ-523/ZSL-93 - with 73mm BMP-1 type turret  China,
• BRDM-2 (×12) Soviet Union,
• BTR-60 Soviet Union (×10),
• BTR-152 Soviet Union(x10)
• Casspir South Africa (×20),
• Wolf Turbo 2 South Africa (×30)

Armoured Personnel Carriers

• ZiS-3 76mm Towed Artillery Soviet Union (×12),
• G2 140mm Gun (×24) United Kingdom South Africa,
• BM-21 122mm  Soviet UnionMRLS (×5) artillery pieces,
• ZU-23-2 23mm AAGs Soviet Union(x12)
• AK-47 Soviet Union assault rifles

Recently the South African Army has trained the Namibian Army's artillery corps in the use of the G2 (140mm) medium gun.^[22]

Air Force

Main article: Namibian Air Force

The Namibian Air Force is small, consisting of between 4 and 12 Chinese K-8 light attack aircraft, and a number of fixed and rotary wing transport assets.^{[citation needed]} Development in this area was hampered by accidental losses during their intervention in the Democratic Republic of Congo.^{[citation needed]} Chinese sources reported the delivery of FT-7NGs in November 2006. Namibian AF ordered 12 Chengdu F-7NMs in August 2005. This is believed to be a variation of the F-PG acquired by Pakistan.

Expansion of the Air Force base at Keetmanshoop is planned.^[23]

Defence cooperation at various levels has been explored with several governments, including the United States.^{[citation needed]} Areas of cooperation include military education, training, and a fisheries program. On 21 May 1990, Namibia signed a border-control agreement with Angola but to date has not entered into defence agreements with any country.

Navy

Development of Namibia's navy has been slow, and the force was only formally established in 2004, 14 years after independence. Engaging approximately 350 personnel it deploys a small number of lightly armed patrol vessels. Extensive Brazilian aid has assisted in the development of the Namibian Navy. Brazil and Namibia signed an agreement in 2004 for the delivery of a patrol boat and two smaller patrol craft. The newly-build 200 ton patrol boat Brendan Simbwaye, built at the Brazilian shipyard INACE, was commissioned on January 19, 2009.^[24] An ongoing co-operation program allows Namibian sailors and naval officers to be trained by the Brazilian Navy; by 2009, 466 seamen had been trained. Brazil also provided assistance in preparing a nautical chart of the approach to Walvis Bay and consulting in charting the outer limits of the continental shelf off Namibia.^[25] The Brazilian navy has also trained marines for the Namibian navy.^[26]

Navy equipment includes one Grajau Class Patrol Boat and two Rio Class Patrol Craft.^[24]

In September 2004 it was reported that the South African Navy had donated two of its Namacurra-class harbour patrol boats to the Nambian Navy. The boats were refitted, with new motors and navigation equipment funded by the German government.^[27]

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} MilTech 2008, p.324
2. ^ ^{a b} Ndjebela, Toivo (25 January 2011). "NDF hails new chief". New Era. http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=37027. 
3. ^ http://www.satruth.co.za/peace.htm, accessed June 2009
4. ^ Namibian Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Defence - Introduction, accessed September 2009
5. ^ Cape Argus/IOL.co.za, Namibian army faces abduction, torture claims, 2001
6. ^ IRIN SA Weekly Roundup Covering the Period 4–10 August 2001
7. ^ Wildfires cause destruction in Okakarara
8. ^ New Era, Cattle bandits besiege region - by Chrispin Inambao, 13 October 2010
9. ^ http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/news-channels/china-military-news/2010-05/26/content_4226284.htm
10. ^ Shalli New NDF Chief New Era, 23 October 2006
11. ^ http://www.observer.com.na/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=339:shalli-in-case-of-mistaken-identity&catid=1:national, October 21, 2010
12. ^ "President Pohamba fires Lieutenant-General Martin Shalli as Chief of NDF". Namibian Broadcasting Corporation. 20 January 2011. http://www.nbc.com.na/article.php?id=5056. 
13. ^ http://www.iss.co.za/pubs/Books/Evol_Revol%20Oct%2005/Chap8.pdf
14. ^ Carlos Kambaekwa Windfall for Mighty Gunners, Africa.co.ee, 3 July 2008
15. ^ Jane's World Armies, 21 January 2008
16. ^ http://www.ediec.org/uploads/media/NAMIBIA_GRAVESITE_FIND_04.pdf, accessed September 2009
17. ^ Christof Marletsky, United Nations says it can act on mass graves, The Namibian, 25 February 2010
18. ^ Danger Ashipala dies, accessed August 2010
19. ^ http://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?id=28&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=30248&no_cache=1
20. ^ IISS Military Balance 2007, Routledge, London, 2007, p.285, ISBN 978-1-85743-437-8
21. ^ IISS Military Balance 2006
22. ^ Defenceweb.co.za, Lack of funds harming army, 1 December 2010
23. ^ Parliament of Namibia, Summary of Development and Investment Expenditure by Vote, Inside/Outside SRF - Vote Code 8: Defence, accessed August 2010
24. ^ ^{a b} Press release: Brazil exports warship to Namibia, Brazilian Navy, January 8, 2009. (Portuguese)
25. ^ Brazil-Namibia co-operation, Brazilian Navy(Portuguese)
26. ^ http://www.mar.mil.br/menu_h/noticias/ccsm/marinha_forma/primeira_turma_sdfn.html
27. ^ Helmoed-Romer Heitman, 'SAN patrol boats gifted to Mozambique,' Jane's Defence Weekly, 1 September 2004, p.17

Further reading

• Stephen F. Burgess, 'Fashioning Integrated Security Forces after Conflict', African Security, 1: 2, 69 — 91 (2008)
• Greg Mills, BMATT and Military Integration in South Africa, South African Defence Review, Issue 2, 1992 Covers reformation of Namibian Defence Force and British involvement
• Case studies in war-to-peace transition: the demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants in Ethiopia, Namibia, and Uganda
• Thomas Jan Lambert, Criminal Justice in the Namibian Defence Force, LAP Lambert Academic Publishing, 2010
• Peter Batchelor, Kees Kingma, Guy Lamb, Demilitarisation and Peace-building in Southern Africa: The role of the military in state formation and nation-building, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2004