African Activist Archive

Contents: I. What Is Resolution 435? • II. Resolution 385: Forerunner Of Resolution 435 • III. Basic Premises Of Resolution 435 • IV. Walvis Bay • V. United Nations Special Representative • VI. UNTAG • VII. Cease-Fire • VIII. Administration Of Namibia Under Resolution 435 • IX. Electoral Process: General • X. Electoral Process: Specific Provisions • XI. Registration • XII. Police Force • XIII. Constituent Assembly • XIV. Subsequent Changes In Resolution 435? • "Resolution 435" is a shorthand expression for the formula adopted by the United Nations Security Council in September 1978 to end South Africa's illegal occupation of Namibia and bring about Namibia's independence. Actually, the formula is not spelled out in resolution 435; paragraph 1 simply "approves" - in effect, incorporates by reference - one principal and two subsidiary documents that, together, constitute the plan. The resolution then memorializes acceptance of that plan by both Pretoria and the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO). In 1976, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 385, which stated a formula for bringing Namibia to independence. It required Pretoria to immediately withdraw from the Territory, transferring power to the UN. The UN would thereafter hold a territory-wide election to "elect representatives to a Namibian Constituent Assembly which will draw up and adopt the constitution for an independent and sovereign Namibia." When South Africa balked and a sanctions resolution was introduced in the Security Council, the U.S., UK, and France jointly vetoed it. The Contact Group then began negotiations with Pretoria outside of the framework of the Security Council. Registration of voters is mentioned only in passing in resolution 435, although it is the most time-consuming, and probably the most crucial, step in the electoral process. Immediately after the election results are certified, the Constituent Assembly will begin meeting. The report mentions World War I, the League of Nations, the Secretary-General, S/12827, S/12869, the Non-Aligned States, Martti Ahtisaari, the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG), South African troops, Grootfontein, Oshivello, UNITA, Cuba, Angola, the South Africa Defence Force (SADF), the South West Africa Territorial Force (SWATF), the Counterintelligence Unit (COIN), Koevoet, intimidation, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, security forces, Security Police, the International Court of Justice (ICJ, World Court), Administrator-General, and Bantustans.

African Activist Archive

Security Council Resolution 435

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