Namibia eyes Russian partnership for space ambitions

Namibia is considering joining the United Nations treaty that guides how countries explore and use outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies.

This was said by the minister of international relations and cooperation, Peya Mushelenga, at the first ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in Sochi, Russia, over the past weekend.

Mushelenga said Namibia is open to working with other African states and Russia to strengthen Namibia’s commitment to peaceful and responsible exploration beyond Earth.

“We are here to reflect on issues that are of mutual interest to our respective countries. These include, among others, economic cooperation, exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, cooperation in the fight against terrorism, and the creation of a fair and equitable system of international information security,” Mushelenga said.

“On the issue of outer space, Namibia’s 2021 space science and technology policy aligns with the United Nations Treaty on the Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,” he added.

“Although our country is currently not a member state of this convention, we are busy considering membership. We welcome cooperation with African states and the Russian Federation in this regard,” said Mushelenga.

He continued that Namibia has also been actively participating in continuing negotiations on the development of a United Nations convention against cybercrime, under the theme ‘Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technologies for Criminal Purposes’.

“We believe this new international convention will complement the implementation of the AU Convention on Cybersecurity and Personal Data Protection, in which the Russian Federation and Africa can strengthen cooperation to ensure that we are better prepared to respond to cyber security challenges and related crimes,” he said.

Mushelenga further said Namibia has also become a member of the Eastern and Southern African Anti- Money Laundering Group, to strengthen national efforts.

“We therefore condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the terrorist activities in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and will continue to work with the Russian Federation and fellow African countries, including through the African Peace and Security Architecture, to combat terrorism and violent extremism,” he said.

He said terrorism is a serious threat to domestic and international structures, affecting political, social and economic systems.

“To complement these international frameworks at the national level, Namibia enacted the Prevention of Organised Crime Act of 2004, and the Prevention and Combating of Terrorist and Proliferation Activities Act of 2014,” he said.