People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN)

Abstract

Abstract During World War I (1914–1918) South Africa invaded neighboring German South West Africa and after the conflict Pretoria administered the territory as a mandate of the League of Nations. White settlers moved in and South Africa ruled the territory as a new province. In 1965 the South West African People's Organization (SWAPO), frustrated by years of futile non‐violent protest and state oppression, formed the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) to pursue an armed struggle against South African occupation. Based in the west of newly independent Zambia, PLAN insurgents infiltrated northern South West Africa. In August 1966 South African paratroopers and police destroyed a PLAN camp at Omgulumbashe in the first engagement of the “Border War.” In September 1966 PLAN attacked a border town and in March 1967 ambushed police in West Caprivi. PLAN commander Tobias Hanyeko, in May 1967, was killed in a skirmish with police near the Zambezi River. After two large groups crossed the border in October 1968 and were eliminated, PLAN began to use smaller units. PLAN launched a new offensive in early 1973, which prompted the South African Defense Force (SADF) to take over counterinsurgency from the police. Initially, the SADF used medical services and development projects to win “hearts and minds,” but as the conflict expanded South African counterinsurgency became increasingly brutal.