The UN Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) was first established by the Security Council on September 29, 1978. According to resolution 435, UNTAG would ensure the early independence of Namibia through free elections under the supervision and control of the United Nations. However, it would take over ten years before UNTAG was able to perform its mission.
On February 16, 1989, the Security Council authorized the deployment of UNTAG. Resolution 632 implemented the provisions of resolution 435 to ensure that conditions in Namibia would allow the Namibian people to participate freely and without intimidation in the electoral process under the supervision and control of the United Nations. An international staff was established to observe the electoral process in Namibia. UNTAG's 1,500 police officers ensured a smooth electoral process and monitored the local police. Its military staff of 4,300 monitored the cease-fire between SWAPO and South African forces and the withdrawal and demobilization of all military forces.
Namibia was divided into 23 electoral districts, and registration centers were set up all over the country. Some 2,200 rural registration points were covered by 110 mobile registration teams. Registration of voters began on July 3th. When the process ended on September 23rd, over 700,000 Namibians had registered. In addition, more than 34,000 had been repatriated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Elections were held from November 7th to the 11th and saw a voter turnout of 97%. UNTAG monitored the balloting and the counting of votes. On November 14th, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Namibia, Martti Ahtisaari, declared that the elections had been free and fair. SWAPO obtained 41 Assembly seats, the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance 21 seats, and five smaller parties shared the remaining 10. The Constituent Assembly met for the first time on November 21st to draft a new constitution, which was unanimously approved on February 9th. On February 16th, the Assembly elected SWAPO leader Sam Nujoma as President of the Republic for a five-year term.
Namibia became independent on March 21,1990. On that day, at the National Stadium in Windhoek, the United Nations Secretary-General administered the oath of office to Namibia's first president. UNTAG's mandate also terminated in March. On April 23, 1990, Namibia became the United Nations 160th Member.
Source: Basic Facts About the United Nations. Published by United Nations Department of Public Information. Copyright 1995 United Nations.
