The Ministry of International Relations and Trade (formerly Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation), was established at Namibia’s independence in 1990.The Ministry is entrusted with the primary function of formulating, promoting and executing Namibia’s foreign policy and the conduct of Namibia’s international relations.

 

The foundation and guide for the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation is the Constitution, which defines all aspects of state power in Namibia.

Article 96 of the Constitution stipulates five general guidelines which underpin the Government's commitment to actively promote friendly and beneficial relations and co-operation with other nations, and also to foster, in concert with them, the maintenance of the rule of law, peace, security, social justice and economic welfare.

The five guidelines which are contained in the Constitution are:

Based on Article 96 of the Namibian Constitution, the Government of Namibia has already identified key strategic foreign policy goals and objectives to be pursued by the Ministry, and at times, in conjuction with the relevant Ministries, offices and agencies. The key strategic foreign policy goals are as follows:

In line with the above, the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation is, therefore, the administrative machinery responsible for the management of the foreign policy of the Republic of Namibia. Its activities and functions are geared towards the formulation, co-ordination and smooth functioning of the policies of Namibia in so far as they involve relations, bilateral and multilateral, with other countries and international organizations.

https://mirt.gov.na/