The Caprivi Conflict
Encyclopedia
The Caprivi conflict was an armed conflict between the Namibian
government and the Caprivi Liberation Army
, a rebel
group working for the secession of the Caprivi Strip
.
in the north east of Namibia is mainly inhabited by the Lozi people
. They share a common language and history, and often feel more connected with Lozi people in neighbouring countries Zambia
, Angola
and Botswana
.
The Namibian government has accused the CLA of being allied with the Angolan rebel movement UNITA
. UNITA is very unpopular in Namibia since it helped South Africa
fighting SWAPO during the liberation struggle, and is considered to be an enemy of the state by many.
One cause of the conflict can be seen in a previous power struggle between Mishake Muyongo
and the Swapo leadership during exile in Angola. In July 1980 Muyongo was ousted from being Swapo Vice-President under the pretext of being involved in subversive activities and pursuing secessionist ambitions. He was subsequently detained in Zambia and Tanzania, followed by a purge against Caprivians in Swapo.
After his return to Namibia in 1985 Muyongo formed the United Democratic Party
(UDP) which joined the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA). He was President of DTA from 1991 until 1998 when he was expelled as a result of his support for the secession
of his home region.
was formed in 1994. The rebel
movement's goal is Caprivi self-rule.
In October 1998 the Namibian Defence Force with the support of the Special Field Force
discovered and raided a CLA training camp. That resulted in more than 100 armed CLA men and about 2,500 civilians fleeing into Botswana. Amongst the refugees were leaders of the CLA, namely Mishake Muyongo and Mafwe Chief Boniface Mamili. Both were granted asylum
in Denmark
. Namibia unsuccessfully demanded Botswana and Denmark to hand over the rebels, and President Nujoma called the rebels "traitors and murderers" and stated that they would be punished for their crimes.
In the early hours of August 2, 1999 CLA launched an attack in Katima Mulilo
, the provincial capital of the Caprivi Region, occupying the state-run radio station and attacking a police station, the Wanella border post, and an army base. Namibian security forces were caught off-guard. In the fighting that followed between rebel and government forces 14 people were killed. A state of emergency
was declared in the province, and the government arrested alleged CLA supporters. Mishake Muyongo said that the rebellion was "just the beginning", but the government's hard crack down forced it to come to an abrupt stop.
The conflict sought many human rights abuses. Both Angolan and Namibian forces, and UNITA were accused of committing human rights violations against the population in the Caprivi Strip.
repeatedly complained about.
On October 7, 2002, the Itengese nation severed all ties with Namibia and declared the independent, sovereign Free State of Caprivi Strip/Itenge their national homeland. This nation is not recognized by any other government, though, least of all 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...
government and the Caprivi Liberation Army
Caprivi Liberation Army
Caprivi Liberation Army is a Namibian rebel and separatist group which was established in 1994 to separate the Caprivi Strip, a region mainly inhabited by the Lozi people. It operates only in the Caprivi strip.-Background:...
, a rebel
Rebellion
Rebellion, uprising or insurrection, is a refusal of obedience or order. It may, therefore, be seen as encompassing a range of behaviors aimed at destroying or replacing an established authority such as a government or a head of state...
group working for the secession of the Caprivi Strip
Caprivi Strip
Caprivi, sometimes called the Caprivi Strip , Caprivi Panhandle or the Okavango Strip and formally known as Itenge, is a narrow protrusion of Namibia eastwards about , between Botswana to the south, Angola and Zambia to the north, and Okavango Region to the west. Caprivi is bordered by the...
.
Background
The Caprivi StripCaprivi Strip
Caprivi, sometimes called the Caprivi Strip , Caprivi Panhandle or the Okavango Strip and formally known as Itenge, is a narrow protrusion of Namibia eastwards about , between Botswana to the south, Angola and Zambia to the north, and Okavango Region to the west. Caprivi is bordered by the...
in the north east of Namibia is mainly inhabited by the Lozi people
Lozi people
The Lozi people are an ethnic group primarily of western Zambia, inhabiting the region of Barotseland. Lozi are also found in Namibia , Angola and Botswana.-Name:...
. They share a common language and history, and often feel more connected with Lozi people in neighbouring countries 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....
, 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...
and Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
.
The Namibian government has accused the CLA of being allied with the Angolan rebel movement UNITA
UNITA
The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola is the second-largest political party in Angola. Founded in 1966, UNITA fought with the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola in the Angolan War for Independence and then against the MPLA in the ensuing civil war .The war was one...
. UNITA is very unpopular in Namibia since it helped South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
fighting SWAPO during the liberation struggle, and is considered to be an enemy of the state by many.
One cause of the conflict can be seen in a previous power struggle between Mishake Muyongo
Mishake Muyongo
Mishake Muyongo is a Namibian politician and former Member of Parliament who is living in exile in Denmark.Muyongo was born in Linyanti. In September 1964 Muyongo became President of the Caprivi African National Union when its leader Simbwaye was arrested and disappeared in South-African custody...
and the Swapo leadership during exile in Angola. In July 1980 Muyongo was ousted from being Swapo Vice-President under the pretext of being involved in subversive activities and pursuing secessionist ambitions. He was subsequently detained in Zambia and Tanzania, followed by a purge against Caprivians in Swapo.
After his return to Namibia in 1985 Muyongo formed the United Democratic Party
United Democratic Party
There are several political parties called the United Democratic Party.* United Democratic Party * United Democratic Party * United Democratic Party, Cyprus* United Democratic Party...
(UDP) which joined the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA). He was President of DTA from 1991 until 1998 when he was expelled as a result of his support for the secession
Secession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
of his home region.
Course of the conflict
The Caprivi Liberation ArmyCaprivi Liberation Army
Caprivi Liberation Army is a Namibian rebel and separatist group which was established in 1994 to separate the Caprivi Strip, a region mainly inhabited by the Lozi people. It operates only in the Caprivi strip.-Background:...
was formed in 1994. The rebel
Rebellion
Rebellion, uprising or insurrection, is a refusal of obedience or order. It may, therefore, be seen as encompassing a range of behaviors aimed at destroying or replacing an established authority such as a government or a head of state...
movement's goal is Caprivi self-rule.
In October 1998 the Namibian Defence Force with the support of the Special Field Force
Special Field Force
The Special Field Force is a Namibian paramilitary police unit created in 1995 by the late commissioner Ruben "danger" Ashipala as an auxiliary aggressive Unit to complement the Special Reserve Force. It encompasses border guards, VIP Protection Unit and Installation unit...
discovered and raided a CLA training camp. That resulted in more than 100 armed CLA men and about 2,500 civilians fleeing into Botswana. Amongst the refugees were leaders of the CLA, namely Mishake Muyongo and Mafwe Chief Boniface Mamili. Both were granted asylum
Right of asylum
Right of asylum is an ancient juridical notion, under which a person persecuted for political opinions or religious beliefs in his or her own country may be protected by another sovereign authority, a foreign country, or church sanctuaries...
in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. Namibia unsuccessfully demanded Botswana and Denmark to hand over the rebels, and President Nujoma called the rebels "traitors and murderers" and stated that they would be punished for their crimes.
In the early hours of August 2, 1999 CLA launched an attack in Katima Mulilo
Katima Mulilo
Katima Mulilo is the capital of the Caprivi Strip, Namibia's far north–east extension into central Southern Africa. It comprises two electoral constituencies, Katima Mulilo Rural and Katima Mulilo Urban...
, the provincial capital of the Caprivi Region, occupying the state-run radio station and attacking a police station, the Wanella border post, and an army base. Namibian security forces were caught off-guard. In the fighting that followed between rebel and government forces 14 people were killed. A state of emergency
State of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
was declared in the province, and the government arrested alleged CLA supporters. Mishake Muyongo said that the rebellion was "just the beginning", but the government's hard crack down forced it to come to an abrupt stop.
The conflict sought many human rights abuses. Both Angolan and Namibian forces, and UNITA were accused of committing human rights violations against the population in the Caprivi Strip.
Aftermath
In 1999, 132 alleged participants were arrested and charged with high treason, murder and a host of other offenses. Judgement in the resulting trial, known as the Caprivi treason trial has not been delivered, a situation that Amnesty InternationalAmnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
repeatedly complained about.
On October 7, 2002, the Itengese nation severed all ties with Namibia and declared the independent, sovereign Free State of Caprivi Strip/Itenge their national homeland. This nation is not recognized by any other government, though, least of all Namibia.