Military branches: Swiss Guards Corps (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera)

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards are posted at entrances to the Vatican City to provide security and protect the Pope

Transnational Issues Holy See (Vatican City)

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002

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Namibia

Introduction

Namibia

Background: South Africa occupied the German colony of South-West Africa during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War II when it annexed the territory. In 1966 the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war of independence for the area that was soon named Namibia, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration in accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Independence came in 1990.