Special Representative Ahtisaari Declares Elections Free and Fair
In November 1989, 23 years after the United Nations terminated South Africa's mandate to administer Namibia, the Territory took its first step towards independence. Under the supervision of the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG), a team of more than 6,000 military and civilian personnel, a Constituent Assembly was elected. Despite various setbacks, more than 90 percent of the 701,483 registered voters participated in electing the 72 delegates to draw up the nation's new constitution.
Martti Ahtisaari, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Namibia, formally certifies the elections as free and fair, thus declaring the elections valid.