Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

Post 1945, Peacekeeping, Africa, Namibia. United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG), 1989-92

Overview

UNTAG was a combined military and civilian force of peacekeepers, military observers, police, and election officials. The force was established to help the United Nations (UN) monitor the peace process and ensure free and fair elections and ensure the independence of Namibia. The first UNTAG members arrived on 1 April 1989. At UNTAG's peak, more than 7,500 troops and around 2,000 international civilian and local staff were on the ground. As part of the UNTAG mission, Australia agreed to send a contingent of approximately 300 engineers and officers for the peacekeeping efforts in Namibia.

Historical information

Australian peacekeepers were some of the first deployed as part of the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) to Namibia in 1989. At the time, Namibia had been occupied by South Africa since 1915. In 1966, the people of Namibia rose up against South African forces to fight for independence. The conflict continued for decades, crossing into neighbouring countries of Angola and Zambia.

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-32-54-375
Contextual Information

National Peacekeepers' Day: On 14 September each year, Australia observes National Peacekeeper’s Day, the anniversary of Australia becaming the world's first peacekeepers to deploy into the field, in the Netherlands East Indies in 1947.

International Day of UN Peacekeepers: 29 May is a day of commemoration and acknowledgement of all military, police and civilian personnel who have served as peacekeepers with the UN. Since UN peacekeeping began, more than 4,000 peacekeepers from many countries have lost their lives while performing their duties under the UN flag.

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-17.901255976947, 15.978369357861

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Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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Sapper Darren Bailey (left) and Corporal Jason Graham, both of 15 Troop, 17th Construction Squadron, standing at the sandbagged front gate of the base for the Australian contingent to the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) to Namibia. Photograph taken in Ondangwa, Namibia, in October 1989. AWM P03485.042.

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