Template:Infobox unrecognized state
The Rehoboth area, historically the Free Republic of Rehoboth (German: Freie Republik Rehoboth) is an unrecognized state in central Namibia, inhabited by the indigenous Baster people.
Between 1979 and 1989, the area was a South West African bantustan.
The first provisions for establishing a Rehoboth government were made on 15 December 1868, in Warmbad, German South West Africa.[1]
The state constitution of the Rehoboth area was based on the initial constitution of 31 January 1872.[1][2] The original constitution was amended on 1 January 1874.[3]
On 15 September 1885, through the 'Treaty of Protection and Friendship Between the German Empire and the Basters of Rehoboth of 1885', the independence of the Rehoboth Basters was first recognised.[3]
The Rehoboth Basters are not recognised as a traditional ethnic community of Namibia, unlike other ethnic groups. From February 2007 to December 2019, the Rehoboth Basters were members of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO).[4]
Rehoboth area includes the Rehoboth Homeland bantustan which existed until 1989. It is 14,216 square kilometres in area, and has a population of around 35,000.[4] The capital is Rehoboth.
On 20 March 1990, the representatives of the Rehoboth Baster, the Captain-led Baster Council (Basterrat) declared independence from South West Africa.[5] A day later, Namibia became independent from South Africa .
The government is formed by the Captains Council (Kapteinsraad), which is headed currently by Captain Jacky Britz, who was elected as leader in April 2021, defeating Rynault van Wyk.[6] This election result, however, is currently disputed in the Windhoek High Court by van Wyk.[6]
Nationally, the Rehoboth Baster are represented by the United People's Movement.
Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rehoboth area.
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