In 1966, the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organization (Swapo) launched a war of independence for the area that became Namibia.

CNN: Namibia country profile: moving on from a difficult past

Swapo has governed since Namibia won independence in 1990 in a functioning democracy that saw Hifikepunye Pohamba take his second five-year term as president following elections in 2009.

CNN: Namibia country profile: moving on from a difficult past