Accessibility links

Breaking News
News

Namibia Swears-in New President


Namibia has a new president. Hifikepunye Pohamba was sworn in Monday as the country's second president since gaining independence from apartheid-era South Africa in 1990.

Mr. Pohamba took the oath of office in front of thousands of people at an outdoor stadium in the capital, Windhoek. He won 75 percent of the vote in elections last November to succeed Sam Nujoma, who has led Namibia for the past 15 years. Both men are from the ruling SWAPO, South West Africa People's Organization, party.

Mr. Pohamba served as lands minister under Mr. Nujoma. The new president vows to maintain many of his predecessor's economic policies, and to advance a land reform program which buys farms from white owners and distributes the farms to blacks.

Mr. Pohamba has warned that the country faces revolution if the reforms are not quickly implemented.

Some information for this report provided by AP, Reuters.

XS
SM
MD
LG