Namibian Politician Named Adolf Hitler Set to Win Re-election in Former German Colony

Namibian politician Adolf Hitler Uunona is poised to secure another electoral victory in his constituency, continuing his long-standing political career despite his controversial name.

The 59-year-old representative of the Ompundja constituency in Namibia's northern Oshana region has held this position since 2004 as a member of the South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) party.

Despite sharing his name with the infamous Nazi dictator who orchestrated the Holocaust, Uunona has repeatedly distanced himself from any association with the historical figure. He has emphasized that his father named him without fully understanding the historical connotations, stating, "My father gave me this name, but it does not mean I have Adolf Hitler's character or resemble that of Adolf Hitler of Germany."

In a 2020 interview with German newspaper Bild, Uunona explained, "My father probably didn't understand what Adolf Hitler stood for. As a child, I saw it as a totally normal name. Only as I grew up did I understand this man wanted to conquer the whole world. I have nothing to do with any of these things."

While his wife addresses him as "Adolf," Uunona typically omits "Hitler" when in public settings. Nevertheless, he has indicated no intention to legally change his name, explaining that "It's on all my official documents. It's too late for that."

After his decisive victory in the 2020 election, where he garnered 85 percent of the vote, Uunona told The Namibian newspaper that he consciously tries to avoid any association with the notorious dictator, adding that he "didn't have a choice" regarding his given name.

Names like Adolf remain relatively common in Namibia due to its history as a former German colony. In 2020, a vehicle in Uunona's home region was spotted displaying the name "Adolf Hitler" alongside a Nazi swastika on its rear window, though the politician firmly denied any connection to this incident.