Editing SWAPO (section)

=== Struggle for independence ===
{{See also|1971–72 Namibian contract workers strike}}
During 1962, SWAPO had emerged as the dominant nationalist organisation for the Namibian people. It co-opted other groups such as the [[South West Africa National Union]] (SWANU), and later in 1976 the [[Namibia African People's Democratic Organisation]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PFYhaULYUr4C&dq=Namibia+African+People's+Democratic+Organisation&pg=PA99 |via=[[Google Books]] |title=A History of Resistance in Namibia |page=99 |first=Peter H. |last=Katjavivi |year=1988 |publisher=Currey |isbn=0-86543-144-2}}</ref> SWAPO used [[guerrilla tactics]] to fight the [[South African Defence Force]]. On 26 August 1966, the first major clash of the conflict took place, when a unit of the [[South African Police]], supported by the [[South African Air Force]], exchanged fire with SWAPO forces. This date is generally regarded as the start of what became known in South Africa as the [[South African Border War|Border War]].{{cn|date=December 2024}}

One important factor in the fight for independence was the [[1971-72 Namibian contract workers strike]], which fought for the elimination of the contract labor system and independence from South Africa. An underlying goal was the promotion of independence under SWAPO leadership.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ovambo migrant workers general strike for rights, Namibia, 1971-72 {{!}} Global Nonviolent Action Database |url=https://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/ovambo-migrant-workers-general-strike-rights-namibia-1971-72#bootstrap-panel--3--content |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite journal |last1=Rogers |first1=Barbara |title=Namibia's General Strike |journal=Africa Today |date=1972 |volume=19 |issue=2 |pages=3–8 |jstor=4185227 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4185227 |issn=0001-9887}}</ref>

In 1973, the [[United Nations General Assembly]] recognised SWAPO as the 'sole legitimate representative' of Namibia's people.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/country_profiles/1469048.stm |title=Country Profiles – Timeline: Namibia |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=8 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112042754/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/country_profiles/1469048.stm |archive-date=12 January 2009 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The Norwegian government began giving aid directly to SWAPO in 1974.<ref name="norway">{{cite book |last=Eriksen |first=Tore Linné |url=http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn%3Anbn%3Ase%3Anai%3Adiva-228 |title=Norway and National Liberation in Southern Africa |pages=90 |author-link=Tore Linné Eriksen}}</ref>

The country of [[Angola]] gained its independence on 11 November 1975 following its [[Angolan War of Independence|war for independence]]. The leftist [[Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola]] (MPLA), supported by [[Cuban intervention in Angola|Cuba]] and the [[Soviet Union]], came to power. In March 1976, the MPLA offered SWAPO bases in Angola for launching attacks against the South African military.{{Cn|date=July 2024}}