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Namibia and South Africa have unanimously adopted the report, which guides negotiations surrounding the Orange River Boundary.

The report was adopted at the just concluded meeting of the Political, Diplomatic, and Legal Committee of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission.

During open and cordial discussions, committee members reviewed the comprehensive report presented by the Joint Committee of Experts, leading to the unanimous adoption of the report.

The matter has been a topic of discussion since Namibia's independence in 1990.

The Committee Chairperson and the Minister of International Relations, Peya Mushelenga, expressed gratitude to the Joint Committee for their dedication and thorough efforts in compiling the report. 

He emphasised the urgency of reaching a resolution, noting that over three decades have passed without a conclusive agreement on the boundary issue, which is vital for both current and future generations of Namibia and South Africa.

"The discussions were conducted in a frank, open, and cordial manner guided by the principles of good neighbourliness, mutual respect, and trust—the values that continue to underpin the excellent state of bilateral relations and cooperation between our sister countries and peoples. Allow me at this juncture to express my most sincere gratitude to the Joint Committee of Experts for not only submitting and presenting their report but also for their tireless efforts and dedication aimed at assisting the two countries to reach a conclusion on the matter of the Orange River Boundary, which has been the subject of negotiations between Namibia and South Africa since 1991."

The committee also evaluated the implementation status of other decisions made during the last session of the Bi-National Commission, reporting significant progress in most areas. 

However, it called for intensified efforts to ensure the full and effective execution of all agreements made between the two countries.

The outcomes of the meeting will be forwarded to the Heads of State of both nations for further consideration.

"Over and above the issue of the Orange River Boundary, we also had the opportunity to review the status of implementation of the other decisions that were entrusted to the Political, Diplomatic, and Legal Committee by the Third Session of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission in October last year. We have noted good progress with respect to the implementation of the majority decisions that were entrusted to our Committee. We should, however, intensify our efforts to ensure the speedy, effective, and full implementation of all the agreements concluded between the two countries."

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Photo Credits
Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation-Namibia

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Author
Marcello Franz