Namibia's path to sovereignty was one of the 20th century's most protracted struggles. Formerly German South West Africa, it came under South African control after WWI. For decades, Namibians lived under apartheid rule. The South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) began an armed struggle in 1966, leading to a long, bitter conflict. International pressure mounted throughout the 1970s and 80s, with the UN recognizing SWAPO. A key diplomatic breakthrough, linking Namibian independence to the