Namibian Politician Named Adolf Hitler Draws Attention in Local Election

OSHANA, Namibia — November 26, 2025 — Adolf Hitler Uunona, a local politician in northern Namibia, is widely expected to retain his council seat in the upcoming regional elections, officials said. Uunona, a member of the ruling SWAPO party, is running again in the Ompundja constituency, located in the Oshana region.

The politician’s name, Adolf Hitler, has drawn international attention due to its association with the German dictator. However, Uunona has stated that the name was given to him by his father without understanding its historical significance. In an interview with the German outlet Bild, he said the name was “perfectly normal” to him as a child and that he only later learned about the dictator’s actions.

Uunona emphasized that his name carries no ideological meaning and that he has never held extremist beliefs. He noted that having the name does not imply any political intent, saying, “The fact I have this name does not mean I want to conquer Oshana.” In daily life, he generally goes by Adolf Uunona.

Namibia was a German colony from 1884 to 1915, and Germanic names and place names remain common in some communities. Historians have noted that this colonial legacy sometimes results in unusual name combinations by modern standards, though these names do not inherently carry ideological significance.

The Ompundja constituency has a population of 4,659 inhabitants, with 19 administrative centers covering an area of 466 square kilometers, according to official information from the Oshana regional government.

SWAPO, which has governed Namibia since its independence in 1990, has evolved from its socialist liberation roots toward a more centrist, market-oriented approach. While final election results have not yet been released, several international outlets report that Uunona is projected to win by a wide margin, consistent with previous elections.

The attention on Uunona’s name highlights the complex legacy of Namibia’s colonial past and its ongoing impact on local politics and identity.