Interim board to restart Namibia youth council elections
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on The Namibian
Namibia plans to appoint an interim board by the end of October to restart disrupted elections for the National Youth Council. Minister Sanet Steenkamp says consultations on amending the law will begin in November, with a draft expected by March 2027, according to The Namibian.
An interim board of Namibia’s National Youth Council is expected to be appointed by the end of October to restart general assembly elections that were suspended after disruptions and threats of violence. Namibian Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture Sanet Steenkamp announced the measure in a statement.
The board will work with the minister to finalise its mandate and work plan before a date and venue are set for the resumption of the assembly. The Electoral Commission of Namibia and the Office of the Attorney General have been asked to provide their expertise, while law enforcement will be mobilised to prevent further disruptions. Disputes concerning accreditation and participation will have to be resolved before proceedings resume.
The ministry is also preparing amendments to the National Youth Council Act to address governance shortcomings identified during the 2024 and 2026 general assemblies. Public consultations are due to begin in November, before an amendment bill is finalised in March 2027. The announcement comes after the LPM called for a timetable to take the youth council out of crisis, on 8 October.
