Provides an overview of Namibia, including key events and facts about this sparsely populated but stable country on Africa's south-west coast.
BBC
Germany took control of the area which it called South West Africa in the late 1800s. The discovery of diamonds in 1908 prompted an influx of Europeans. South Africa seized it during World War I and administered it under a League of Nations mandate.
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Germany has apologised to Namibia for the colonial-era killings of thousands of members of the Herero ethnic group; their descendants have asked Berlin for financial compensation.
• Full name: The Republic of Namibia
• Population: 2.2 million (UN, 2010)
• Capital: Windhoek
• Area: 824,292 sq km (318,261 sq miles)
• Major languages: English (official), Afrikaans, German, Oshivambo, Herero, Nama
• Major religion: Christianity
• Life expectancy: 62 years (men), 63 years (women) (UN)
• Monetary unit: 1 Namibian dollar = 100 cents
• Main exports: Diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium, livestock
• GNI per capita: US $4,290 (World Bank, 2009)
• Internet domain: .na
• International dialling code: +264
Namibians achieved independence in 1990 after a bush war of almost 25 years. Inter-racial reconciliation encouraged the country's white people to remain and they still play a major role in farming and other economic sectors.
In recent years supporters of land reform have become more vocal. The expropriation of white-owned farms began in 2005 and the government says it aims to resettle many thousands of landless citizens.
Like its neighbours, Namibia's wellbeing is being threatened by the HIV/Aids epidemic, which is estimated to affect 25% of Namibians. Mr Nujoma made the fight against the disease a national priority.
(Attribution: CNN, BBC and IOL Africa)