Independence Day is a public holiday in Namibia, and it is observed on March 21 each year. The holiday commemorates when Namibia gained its independence from South Africa in 1990.
The Europeans started to show interest in Namibia in the late 18th century. Britain first established the settlement in Walvis Bay in 1797 and annexed the Cape Colony in 1878 to forestall German ambitions in the area.
To prevent the British from establishing a protectorate in Namibia, Germany established German southwest Africa in 1884 and became a colony in 1890, leading to the rebels from the native tribes. During World War I, Germany gradually lost power over Namibia. 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, and it was considered the de facto fifth province of South Africa.
In the 1960s, the European powers started to grant independence to their African colonies and pressured South Africa to grant independence to Namibia, but South Africa refused. As a result, the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) began guerrilla attacks on South African forces. In 1977, the Western Contact Group (WCG) was formed to help the independence of Namibia. After many years of negotiations, Namibia gained independence on March 21, 1990.
The following is the list of Independence Day in Namibia from 2022 to 2026.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| Independence Day | Mar 21, 2022 | Monday |
| Independence Day | Mar 21, 2023 | Tuesday |
| Independence Day | Mar 21, 2024 | Thursday |
| Independence Day | Mar 21, 2025 | Friday |
| Independence Day | Mar 21, 2026 | Saturday |
Please check more public holidays in Namibia: