Namibia has not recognised the new Taliban government in Afghanistan, international relations minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said on Tuesday.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said this while responding to Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) president McHenry Venaani’s question whether Namibia recognises the Taliban government, which seized power in that country in mid-August.
The militant Islamist group, which took control following the departure of US and allied forces, had according to media reports almost immediately instructed girls and young women to stay home from school.
“What I am telling you as a government of Namibia is that we have not recognised the Taliban [government]. However, I want to tell you that we are encouraging that the programmes and crisis that is now in Afghanistan should be solved through dialogue so that the rights of the people in that country are protected,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said in response to Venaani.
Several countries, including India, the US and the UK have said they will not recognise a government that takes power by force, and it remains to be seen how they will deal with the new regime in Kabul.
Earlier this year, Namibia opted not to take in refugees from Afghanistan following the collapsed Ashraf Ghani government.
Executive director of international relations Penda Naanda in August confirmed that the ministry received a request to take in refugees from Afghanistan.
However, he told a local daily that Namibia would not take in any Afghan refugees then, without indicating the reason for this decision.
Naanda, however, called on the international community to extend all possible support to those Afghans who may be at risk.
“Namibia calls on all parties to exercise the utmost restraint to protect lives and to ensure that humanitarian needs are being provided, to respect the rule of law and international humanitarian law, and to abstain from resorting to violence,” he was quoted as having said at the time.
“Namibia encourages the political leadership of the government of Afghanistan, the leaders of the Taliban, and all stakeholders to enter into an inclusive dialogue, and to establish a peace process or framework agreement that will resolve the hostilities and restore the constitutional order and democratic governance of the country,” Naanda said. ktjitemisa@nepc.com.na