India (Commonwealth Union)_ Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Namibia marks the final chapter of his extensive five‑country tour, and is regarded as a historic moment in India’s relationship with this southern African nation. Being the first Indian head of government to visit Namibia in the past thirty years, Modi’s visit highlights a renewed commitment to deepen ties in areas like healthcare, connectivity, and capacity building. It also demonstrates India’s broader ambition to strengthen engagement across the African continent.
A warm and cultural welcome
A grand ceremony greeted Prime Minister Modi upon his arrival at Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako International Airport. Namibia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Selma Ashipala‑Musavyi, led the official reception, and local musicians and dancers entertained the dignitaries and crowds. In a heartfelt moment, PM Modi joined the group to beat Namibian drums, a gesture of respect for local culture that won enthusiastic applause. Shortly after arriving, he shared on X: “Landed in Windhoek a short while ago. Namibia is a valued and trusted African partner with whom we seek to boost bilateral cooperation.”
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Honoring the Indian community
Modi also met with members of the Indian diaspora in Namibia, praising them for preserving their heritage and serving as a bridge between India and their adoptive homeland. He told them he was “extremely proud” of their dedication, noting their optimism about growing friendship between the two countries. His remarks emphasized the importance of cultural exchange in forging strong international bonds.
Namibia’s highest honor
One of the day’s most significant moments came when Prime Minister Modi visited Namibia’s National Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek to pay tribute to the nation’s founding father, Sam Nujoma. That ceremony underscored the mutual respect between the two nations. In recognition of his efforts to deepen India-Namibia cooperation, PM Modi was awarded Namibia’s top civilian honor, the Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis, by President Netumbo Nandi‑Ndaitwah.
In his acceptance remarks, Modi expressed deep gratitude, calling the award not just personal but representative of the “achievements of Indian and Namibian democracies.” He praised both nations as “sentinels of freedom, equality and justice.” This marks the 27th international award bestowed on him since taking office in May 2014. Modi highlighted the award as an homage to India’s 1.4 billion people, emphasizing long-standing relations based on mutual respect, development cooperation, and shared culture. Notably, he is the first Indian leader to be honored with this award, which is a testament to his influence on the global stage.
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Addressing Namibia’s Parliament
The visit continued in full stride as Prime Minister Modi addressed a joint session of the Namibian Parliament. He began by offering greetings from “the Mother of Democracy,” referring to India, and warm wishes to the members of the House. Additionally, Modi highlighted the deep historic links based on similar fights for freedom. He also paid homage to Dr. Sam Nujoma, calling him “a towering leader in the global fight for liberation and justice.” He asked India and Namibia to work together to raise the Global South’s voice and guarantee that its people’s aspirations are heard throughout the world. He highlighted India’s G‑20 presidency, noting that during its term Haiti granted permanent African Union membership, an action symbolizing India’s strong backing for Africa’s aspirations.
Additionally, in a lighter moment, Modi recounted a particularly joyful episode. He thanked Namibian wildlife experts for their assistance in raising the number of cheetahs in India, especially in India’s Kuno National Park. Speaking before parliament, he said, “India and Namibia have a powerful story of cooperation, conservation, and compassion. We are deeply grateful for your gift.” Teasingly, he added that the cheetahs “have sent a message for you: Everything is fine.” His words drew smiles and underscored the unique partnership in wildlife conservation.
High‑level bilateral discussions
Following the parliamentary reception, Modi held formal discussions at Windhoek’s State House with President Nandi‑Ndaitwah. He began by offering condolences on the passing of Namibia’s founding father, Dr. Sam Nujoma, earlier this year, and remarked on the “deep historical ties” that bind their nations. The two leaders explored ways to expand cooperation across a range of sectors: defense, maritime security, digital technology, agriculture, health, pharmaceuticals, clean energy, and critical minerals. In particular, they welcomed growing trade and fast‑tracked plans for a Preferential Trade Agreement between India and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), underscoring the aim to grow bilateral economic ties.
Furthermore, Modi also announced assistance for Quick Impact Projects in agriculture, cyber-security, healthcare, education, women’s empowerment, and child welfare. He discussed India’s experience in using drones for agricultural surveillance and asked Namibian authorities to investigate similar technology to boost farm output. Notably, the Prime Minister commended Namibia for its commitment to India’s cheetah conservation project and invited them to join the International Big Cat Alliance. The talk also included global problems like terrorism, and Modi praised Namibia for its assistance during the sad terrorist assault in Pahalgam and emphasized the importance of collaborative fight against extremism.
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Key agreements signed
As a tangible outcome of the visit, the two countries signed a series of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs):
- Establishment of an Entrepreneurship Development Centre in Namibia.
- Cooperation in health and pharmaceuticals.
- Namibia’s accession to the India‑backed Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
- Namibia’s entry into the Global Biofuels Alliance.
These agreements form the backbone of the newly energized partnership, facilitating collaboration in innovation, public health, and sustainable development.
India-Namibia relations
India and Namibia’s diplomatic friendship dates back to India’s advocacy for Namibian independence. In 1946, India raised the issue at the United Nations, laying early groundwork for support decades later. In his public remarks, Modi described Namibia as “a trusted partner” with a “common history of struggle against colonialism.” Before departing India, Modi noted that his tour, covering Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and concluding in Namibia, was designed to bring India closer to the “Global South,” reinforce cooperation across multiple continents, and expand dialogue within multilateral forums like BRICS, the African Union, ECOWAS, and CARICOM.
Concluding the five-nation tour
With his departure from Windhoek, Prime Minister Modi ended a whirlwind tour that spanned five continents and five countries. In a message shared by India’s Ministry of External Affairs on X, the trip was described as “a highly productive & successful five‑nation tour to Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia.” The visit “significantly advanced India’s Global South policy and elevated India’s soft power presence in Africa, particularly through collaborative initiatives in health, technology, and education.” On the ground in Namibia, the tour’s success is already being felt with new facilities, MoUs in place, and stronger diplomatic bonds. From drumbeats at the airport to cheetah conservation, the visit captures the warmth of people‑to‑people ties and the promise of an even richer future partnership.
