People's Liberation Army of Namibia
Encyclopedia
The People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) was the active military wing of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) during the Namibian War of Independence
. It sought independence for the territory (then South West Africa
, now Namibia
) from South African rule. PLAN launched its first attack on the South African military at Ongulumbashe in northern Namibia on 26 August, 1966. Throughout the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, PLAN launched attacks from bases in Zambia
then later Angola
. PLAN was integrated into the Namibian Defence Force
upon independence in 1990.
Namibian War of Independence
See also South African Border War.The Namibian War of Independence, also known as the South African Border War, which lasted from 1966 to 1988, was a guerrilla war, which the nationalist South-West Africa People's Organization and others, fought against the apartheid government in South...
. It sought independence for the territory (then South West Africa
South West Africa
South-West Africa was the name that was used for the modern day Republic of Namibia during the earlier eras when the territory was controlled by the German Empire and later by South Africa....
, now Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
) from South African rule. PLAN launched its first attack on the South African military at Ongulumbashe in northern Namibia on 26 August, 1966. Throughout the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, PLAN launched attacks from bases in Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
then later Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
. PLAN was integrated into the Namibian Defence Force
Military of Namibia
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."...
upon independence in 1990.
Former PLAN combatants
- Danger AshipalaDanger AshipalaRuben Michael Ningilanayi Ashipala or Danger Ashipala was a Namibian police officer, military commander and military officer. Ashipala was a military commander in the 1970s and 1980s with the People's Liberation Army of Namibia, the armed wing of SWAPO during the Namibian War of Independence...
- Johannes Gaomab
- Dimo HamaamboDimo HamaamboMweukefina Kulaumone Jerobeam Dimo Hamaambo was a Namibian military commander in both the Namibian War of Independence as a SWAPO member and in independent Namibia as a high level commander in the Namibia Defence Force....
- Eliaser Haulyonjaba
- Solomon HuwalaSolomon HuwalaDumeni Solomon Huwala is a former Namibian lieutenant general. Huwala was a commander with the People's Liberation Army of Namibia and earned the nickname "Butcher of Lubango" for allegedly running detainee camps of SWAPO opponents in the southern Angolan city of Lubango during the Namibian War of...
- Richard KamwiRichard KamwiRichard Nchabi Kamwi is a Namibian medical physician and politician. A member of the National Assembly with the South West Africa People's Organization since 1999, Kamwi has been the Minister of Health and Social Services since March 2005.-Pre-independence:After graduating from the Technikon...
- Julius Shaambeni Shilongo MnyikaJulius Shaambeni Shilongo MnyikaJulius Shaambeni Shilongo Mnyika was a Namibian guerrilla with the South West African Liberation Army , forerunner to the People's Liberation Army of Namibia .-Life:...
(with PLAN's forerunner, South West African Liberation Army) - Peter MweshihangePeter MweshihangePeter Mweshihange was a Namibian freedom fighter and guerrilla general, and after Namibian independence politician and diplomat...
- Philemon MoongoPhilemon MoongoPhilemon Moongo is a Namibian politician. A member of the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance, Moongo has been a member of the National Assembly since 1995.-Career:...
- Peter NaholoPeter NaholoPeter Naholo is a Namibian politician and former trade unionist. Naholo was a combatant with the People's Liberation Army of Namibia , the military wing of the SWAPO liberation movement. In 2009, he was placed sixth on the National Assembly list for the newly formed Rally for Democracy and Progress...
- Peter NambundungaPeter NambundungaMajor General Peter Nambundunga is a Namibian military commander. Nambundunga was appointed the Commander of the Army in 2005, replacing Martin Shalli when he was promoted to Chief of the NDF.-Career:...
- Charles Ndaxu NamolohCharles Ndaxu NamolohMajor General Charles Dickson Ndaxu Phillip Namoloh is a Namibian diplomat, politician and military figure. Beginning in 2005, Namoloh has been a member of the National Assembly of Namibia, as well as the defense minister of the country....
- Peter Nanyemba
- Monica NashandiMonica NashandiMonica Nashandi is a Namibian former diplomat and politician. Nashandi was Namibia's ambassador to Scandinavian countries as well as the former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom...
- John PandeniJohn PandeniJohn Alphons Pandeni was a Namibian politician and trade unionist. A member of SWAPO, Pandeni was Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development at the time of his death....
- Martin ShalliMartin ShalliLieutenant General Martin Shalli is a former Namibian diplomat and military commander. In 2005, he was appointed to the post of High Commissioner of Namibia to Zambia by then President Sam Nujoma but was recalled in October 2006 by his successor, Hifikepunye Pohamba and appointed Chief of the...
- Helao ShityuweteHelao ShityuweteHelao Shityuwete is a Namibian author and former politician and military commander. After Namibia gained independence in 1990, Shityuwete published his autobiography titled "Never Follow the Wolf" which chronicled his time on Robben Island as well as his trial for involvement in the Namibian War...
- Ben UlengaBen UlengaBenjamin Ulenga is a Namibian politician. A member of the National Assembly of Namibia, he is the President of the Congress of Democrats , an opposition political party....