The ICJ ruled that South Africa's claims to Namibia were invalid. South Africa ignored the ruling, but the UN stepped up efforts to secure Namibian independence.
The independence of Angola under its allies, the MPLA, provided SWAPO with a base of operations over Namibia's northern border. South Africa countered by fighting against the MPLA and SWAPO in Angola, in alliance with UNITA.
By this time South Africa had 60,000 troops in Namibia, especially in Ovamboland in the north. This increased in the early 1980s, when South Africa occupied part of southern Angola, to perhaps 100,000.
South Africa continued to step up its presence in Namibia, pursued an internal settlement plan independent of the UN, and incurred increasing casualties and expenses fighting SWAPO's 10,000 troops.
Angola, Cuba, and South Africa (in talks brokered by the U.S.) agreed to withdrawal of foreign forces (including 50,000 Cuban troops) from Angola and independence for Namibia.
Pres. Sam Nujoma was reelected, and his party, SWAPO, won a major victory after the constitution was amended to allow Nujoma to run for a third term. The SWAPO secured 76 percent of the seats in the National Assembly.
