Bilateral relations Bilateralism is the conduct of political, economic, or cultural relations between two sovereign states. It is in contrast to unilateralism or multilateralism, which is activity by a single state or jointly by multiple states, respectively. When ...

between Canada and Namibia began in 1977.Canada-Namibia relations
Foreign Ministry of Canada Both countries are members of the Commonwealth of Nations. Neither country has a resident ambassador.

History

Canada's relationship with Namibia began in 1977 when Canada joined the

Western Contact Group The Western Contact Group (WCG), representing three of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - France, United Kingdom and United States - and including Canada and West Germany, launched a joint diplomatic effort in 1977 to bring an ...

, a joint diplomatic effort of France, United Kingdom, United States, Canada and West Germany to bring an internationally acceptable transition to independence for Namibia. In 1990, official relations started; Canada has dispatched an Honorary Consul to Windhoek.

Refugees

Canada is one of the main destinations for Namibian refugees. Together with Botswana and Denmark, Canada has been granting asylum to people fleeing Namibia in the aftermath of the Caprivi conflict, and particularly the

Caprivi treason trial The Caprivi treason trial is a trial in which the Government of Namibia indicted 132 people for allegedly participating in the Caprivi conflict on the side of the Caprivi Liberation Army during a period between 1992 and 2002. They were charged w ...

that followed in which the Namibian government was accused of human rights violations. Only in 2010 Canada has changed its standpoint and is now considering the CLA to be a terrorist organisation that has "attempted to usurp an elected government". Nonetheless, Canada received a steady inflow of Namibian immigrants who seek economic betterment under the pretense of humiliation and harassment in Namibia. In 2011 more than 1,000 Namibians entered Canada. Three quarters of them applied for refugee status, but only a few were successful.

Economic

Canadian companies are significantly invested in the mining industry of Namibia. In 2008, 99% of Canadian imports from Namibia, totaling over 246 million dollars, came in the form of uranium. In July 2010, Canadian-based company

Dundee Precious Metals Dundee (; sco, Dundee; gd, Dùn Dè or ) is Scotland's List of towns and cities in Scotland by population, fourth-largest city and the List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, 51st-most-populous built-up area in the United Kingdom. The mi ...

bought the metal smelter in Tsumeb, saving it from closure and maintaining around 200 jobs.Future of Tsumeb Copper Smelter Secured
The Namibian via

AllAfrica.com AllAfrica is a website that aggregates news produced primarily on the African continent about all areas of African life, politics, issues and culture. It is available in both English and French and produced by AllAfrica Global Media, which has of ...

, July 26, 2010

References

Namibia Bilateral relations of Namibia {{Bilateralrelations-stub