Namibia: Same-Sex Marriage Remains 'Illegal' in Namibia

What the report says

Namibia’s justice and labour relations minister, Wise Immanuel, told the National Assembly on Tuesday that same-sex couples cannot legally marry under Namibian law. His remarks were made in response to concerns raised by works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi about how same-sex marriages are recognized in the country.

According to the report published by The Namibian and distributed by AllAfrica, Immanuel said a May 2023 Supreme Court ruling did not legalize same-sex marriage in Namibia. He said the judgment dealt narrowly with same-sex marriages lawfully concluded outside the country and their recognition for immigration purposes. In that context, the government may recognize such marriages only for immigration-related matters, he said.

Immanuel also pointed to legislation passed by parliament in 2024 that defined marriage, while noting that the law has not yet been put into effect because final steps are still pending. The minister’s clarification comes amid ongoing public and legal questions about the status of same-sex marriage and the extent to which foreign same-sex unions can be acknowledged by the state. In general, the issue reflects a wider regional debate over marriage equality and the limits of court rulings versus legislative change, although the article focused on Namibia’s current legal position.