Heroes' Day, also recognized as Namibia Day by the united nations, is a public holiday in Namibia, and it is observed on August 26 each year.
Heroes' Day commemorates the anniversary when the South African Defence Force attacked the guerrilla fighters at Omugulugwombashe camp, marking the beginning of the Namibian War of Independence.
In 1884, Germany established German southwest Africa and became a colony in 1890. Following the defeat of Germany in World War I, South West Africa was given to the United Kingdom as a mandate under the administration of South Africa.
In 1966, the United Nations General Assembly revoked South Africa's mandate to govern South West African territory, but South Africa refused the solution. As a result, the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) was formed for armed resistance. Several training camps were established in the north of Namibia, and Omugulugwombashe was of them.
On August 26, 1966, the South African Defence Force attacked the guerrilla fighters at Omugulugwombashe training camp. This was marked as the first armed battle of the Namibian War of Independence, and it lasted over 23 years until March 21, 1990, when Namibia gained its independence from South Africa.
The following is the list of Heroes' Day in Namibia from 2022 to 2026.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| Heroes' Day | Aug 26, 2022 | Friday |
| Heroes' Day | Aug 26, 2023 | Saturday |
| Heroes' Day | Aug 26, 2024 | Monday |
| Heroes' Day | Aug 26, 2025 | Tuesday |
| Heroes' Day | Aug 26, 2026 | Wednesday |
Please check more public holidays in Namibia: