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The next several decades were difficult in the territory. Angola, just
to the north of South West Africa, gained independence from Portugal
in 1975, but this move came in the middle of a civil war. The fighting in
Angola spilled over into South West Africa, with SWAPO rebels hiding
in Angola and South African troops invading to arrest them for terrorist
actions. One faction of the Angolan war was supported by Cuban forces,
while South Africa supported another,and a third was made up of internal
Angolan forces.
By the late 1980s, both Cuba and South Africa had tired of the war in
Angola. SouthWest Africa could not develop into a functioning nation—or
even a thriving territory of South Africa as that country had hoped—until
the war ended. In 1988, Cuba and South Africa pulled their forces out of
Angola. South Africa agreed to help South West Africa begin the process
of independence.
In 1990, South West Africa created a constitution, held elections, and
became the independent nation of Namibia. Diplomatic assistance by the
United Nations was important in helping this change take place. If the
Cape Town in South Africa, which hoped to annex South West Africa
permanently under its League of Nations Mandate over the territory.