Namibia: Same-Sex Marriage Remains 'Illegal' in Namibia
[Namibian] Same-sex couples cannot legally marry under Namibian law, justice and labour relations minister Wise Immanuel said in the National Assembly on Tuesday.
In Namibia, same-sex couples are not legally permitted to marry, stated justice and labour relations minister Wise Immanuel during a speech in the National Assembly on Tuesday. This legal stance was clarified following questions raised by works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi about the recognition of same-sex marriages. Immanuel explained that a Supreme Court judgment from May 2023 addressed same-sex marriages conducted outside Namibia for immigration purposes.
He explained that if a same-sex couple legally married in another country, the Namibian government could recognize that marriage solely for immigration purposes. However, this recognition does not imply that same-sex marriage is legal within Namibia. Immanuel emphasized that the judgment does not legalize same-sex marriage in the country.
In 2024, parliament passed legislation that defined marriage, although the law has not yet been implemented pending completion. The minister's clarification comes amidst ongoing inquiries over the legal status of same-sex marriages and the degree to which marriages conducted outside Namibia can be acknowledged by the state. Immanuel clarified that the Supreme Court judgment must be understood within the specific context in which it was made, rather than being interpreted as legalizing same-sex marriage in Namibia.
The issue has been controversial due to parliament's legislative modifications and the court's earlier ruling on the recognition of foreign same-sex marriages for immigration purposes.
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