Erasmus Shalihaxwe
The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has accused the United States of fabricating a jihadist threat along the Namibian-Angolan border to justify foreign military involvement and destabilise the country.
The party claims the alleged threat serves U.S. interests under the guise of providing security support.
IPC member of parliament and shadow minister of defence and veteran affairs, Aloisius Kangulu, dismissed the claims of a jihadist threat as false.
“The narrative of a ‘Jihadist’ threat between Namibia and Angola is a dangerous and fabricated lie. America cannot be allowed to play cowboy policeman of the world when there are world and regional bodies and rules designed to safeguard the sovereignty of nations,” said Kangulu.
He said the situation follows a familiar pattern used by powerful nations to justify foreign interference.
“This is the same deceptive playbook used by imperialist powers to justify military aggression and havoc across the globe. We cannot and will not ignore the disastrous consequences of such interventions in countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Chile, Cambodia, and Vietnam.”
Last month, Namibia’s defence minister Frans Kapofi, met with U.S. Africa Command (Africom) Lieutenant General John Brennan to discuss alleged jihadist and drug cartel activity at the border.
During the meeting, Brennan reportedly offered joint military training and support.
Africom is one of eleven unified combatant commands of the U.S. military that oversees operations and partnerships in Africa.
Kangulu said Namibia must reject any form of foreign military presence.
“Namibians will stand united against the idea of external military help from powers like the United States, which they see as a thinly veiled pretext for neocolonial control and exploitation,” he said.
He added that the IPC’s stance is based on Namibia’s history and commitment to self-determination.
“These are not isolated incidents; they are a pattern of external powers serving their interests at the cost of ordinary people’s lives and a nation’s sovereignty. Namibia refuses to become another cautionary tale.”
He said Namibia’s defence is the duty of its own forces. “It is the constitutional duty and responsibility of our national army and all the country’s security agencies to guard and protect Namibia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity at all times.”
Kangulu warned the government against inviting foreign military intervention. “Any attempt by the Netumbo administration to compromise the integrity of our sovereignty by any means through imperialist interventions shall be considered a violation of our Constitution.”
He said allowing foreign forces on Namibian soil would dishonour the memory of the country’s liberation struggle. “Should it be indeed true that Namibia is under any threat, it is the responsibility of the Namibian people to choose their reliable friends and ask for support if need be, as they did during the difficult times of the liberation struggle.”
“We reject the notion of U.S. military assistance. Such offers often come with hidden agendas of exploitation, interference, and control. Our national security is not negotiable, and we will not trade our hard-won freedom for conditional aid that serves foreign interests,” he said.
Last week, politicians and analysts raised similar concerns over possible U.S. military involvement.
Social commentator Ben Mulongeni urged President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Kapofi to exercise caution, warning that U.S. military assistance often results in long-term instability.
Association of Local Interests (ASOLI) president Joseph Kauandenge also questioned how the U.S. could detect threats before local authorities.
