EU envoys react to IPC meeting furore as SPYL demands expulsions

The Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) has called for the immediate expulsion of five European diplomats following a controversial meeting with Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) leader Panduleni Itula last week.

Meanwhile, the European diplomats who attended the meeting say they did not comment on or prejudge the outcome of any election during the meeting.

SPYL has accused the European representatives of masquerading as diplomats while indulging in acts contrary to diplomatic values, principles and protocols.

On Friday, the European delegation, on behalf of the mission heads to Namibia of the European Union, Germany, Spain, France, Portugal and Finland, said they attended an informal lunch with Itula to discuss the situation in Namibia, including his election campaign.

Their statement was issued after international relations minister Peya Mushelenga summoned the ambassadors to enquire about their meeting with Itula. A day later, Swapo vice-president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is also Namibia’s vice-president, condemned the meeting and questioned its motives.

Nandi-Ndaitwah called out the foreign diplomats for allegedly implying that “a regime change is imminent” in Namibia.

Social media post ruffles feathers

Namibian Sun has it on good authority that the ambassadors were unhappy with a social media post on an IPC-linked page named Windhoek Times, which published an article after the meeting describing Itula as being perceived to be Namibia’s incoming president.

“That particular statement is what caused all this commotion, but we have nothing to do with it. Windhoek Times is not even a media outlet in Namibia, so we don’t take it too seriously,” one of the envoys told Namibian Sun.

The foreign envoys said the meeting formed part of their general engagement with relevant actors in Namibia, as is customary for all diplomatic missions.

“Naturally, EU heads of missions did not discuss matters that fall within the purview of the government, nor did we comment on or prejudge the outcome of any election,” they said in a joint statement.

"The EU and its member states enjoy a warm and long-standing relationship with Namibia based on shared values and respect," the statement concluded.

SPYL weighs in

SPYL condemned the "unprecedented and undiplomatic conduct" of the ambassadors.

“Foreign missions have no business to discuss our domestic issues and their engagements are subject to the provisions of the UN Convention on Diplomatic Relations,” said SPYL secretary Ephraim Nekongo.

While the UN Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 grants certain privileges and immunities to heads of foreign missions, the spirit of the UN charter, Article 41 (1-3), compels foreign missions and their representatives to act within the principles of diplomatic relations, based on mutual respect, he said.

“There is therefore no doubt that the European mission to Namibia has abused, violated and infringed upon the sacred UN Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which is also their term of reference with regards to their operations in our country,” said Nekongo.

Actions to be judged

He said Germany and the European nations responsible for the “agony and oppression” of many African nations are yet to pay reparations for the "criminality, thuggery and robbery" committed against Namibia.

“Germany has an eternal debt to Namibia and our patience should not be misconstrued for weakness. We are aware of the desire of those whose past history exposed them as colonial masters and their thirst to keep us in servitude, under whatever means necessary.”

According to Nekongo, Namibia remains open and ready to cooperate with those who are prepared to act within the scope of multilateralism, cooperation, mutual respect and understanding.

“It is our hope that the sending nations in the EU will withdraw their deployees immediately, lest we deem their actions as having been sanctioned by their respective countries.”