Namibia–Sweden relations
Namibia |
Sweden |
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Namibia–Sweden relations refers to the
Early contacts
The close relationship between Namibia and the Nordic countries can partly be explained by the fact that they share an overwhelmingly Lutheran population. Finnish missionaries conducted proselytism in Ovamboland from the 1870s and onwards.[3] Economic links between Sweden and Namibia remained scarce, however. During the 1970s and 1980s, trade with Namibia never reached more than 0.003% of the total Swedish foreign trade.[3]
Contacts between Sweden and SWANU began in the early 1960s, as Namibian students from SWANU obtained scholarships to study in Sweden. A close relationship was formed between the SWANU students and the Social Democratic Party.[3]
Support for Namibian independence
Contacts between Sweden and SWAPO began after the 1966 International Conference on South West Africa, held in Oxford. Representatives from all parliamentary parties from Sweden (except the Moderate Party) took part in the conference. In the same year two Swedish newspapers, Aftonbladet and Arbetet, initiated a fund-raising campaign for SWANU and SWAPO. Moreover, the National Union of South West African Students was founded in Uppsala in 1966, organized jointly by SWANU and SWAPO.[3]
In 1969 the Swedish parliament voted to initiate official assistance to SWAPO.[3] In 1971 SWAPO established a representation in Sweden, in charge of relations with the Nordic countries, West Germany and Austria.[3]
SWAPO was the sole Namibian nationalist movement to receive official Swedish aid. However, Sweden did not subscribe to the
Financial assistance to SWAPO was modest at first, but gradually increased (although temporarily suspended in 1972-1973). By 1976 Sweden was the largest SWAPO donor outside the
Official Swedish assistance to SWAPO was of civilian nature. However, both the Social Democratic and non-socialist governments recognized the right of SWAPO to engage in armed resistance against South Africa.[3]
Culture
In 2009, the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) in Namibia accused Sveriges Television, the national television station of Sweden, of exploiting ethnic minorities in Namibia in the TV show 'The Great Journey'. The show featured Swedish families living with the Himba ethnic group. The LAC said the show "permeated by a lack of respect," and "uses stereotypes reminiscent of colonial times in its marketing of the programme."[4]
See also
References
- ^ Sweden-Namibia relations: The ties that bind Archived 10 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine The Namibian, 20 October 2008
- ^ Sweden to scale down support Archived 10 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine The Namibian, 7 December 2007
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- ^ Swedish TV blasted for ‘exploiting’ minorities The Namibian, 28 August 2009