Based on false information circulating on social media in early September 2025, Namibia did not ban lesbianism. In fact, the opposite is true regarding consensual same-sex relations between men, which were decriminalized by a High Court ruling in June 2024.
Here is a breakdown of recent legal developments in Namibia concerning the LGBTQ+ community:
- Decriminalization of same-sex intimacy: In a landmark decision on June 21, 2024, the Namibian High Court declared colonial-era laws criminalizing same-sex acts between men unconstitutional and invalid. This was a victory for human rights activist Friedel Dausab, who brought the legal challenge.
- Contradictory marriage law: Despite this decriminalization, there have been setbacks concerning marriage equality.
- In May 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriages performed legally abroad must be recognized in Namibia for residency purposes.
- In December 2024, President Nangolo Mbumba signed a new Marriage Act (2024) into law that expressly defines marriage as a union “between two persons of the opposite sex”. This new law is seen by activists as an attempt to overturn the Supreme Court’s ruling and has been condemned as a major setback for LGBTQ+ rights.
- Presidential action on anti-LGBTQ+ bills:
- Mbumba vetoed two separate anti-LGBTQ+ bills that sought to further criminalize the “promotion” of same-sex marriage, just before leaving office in March 2025.
- The Marriage Act, however, was already enacted under his authority in late 2024.
In summary, same-sex relations between consenting adults are no longer criminalized in Namibia due to the 2024 High Court ruling. However, same-sex marriage is banned under a new law enacted in December 2024. False reports claiming a ban on lesbianism specifically are inaccurate and appear to be part of a larger disinformation campaign targeting the LGBTQ+ community.
on September 2, social media rumored that Namibia had banned Lesbianism, and anyone caught in the act would be face 3 months in jail.
According to the Presido and Point One Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah:
“Namibia, with a population of approximately 51.16% women (about 1.35 million) and 48.84% men (about 1.26 million), is led by women. My government believes that any attempt to prevent men from fulfilling their natural roles, which contribute to societal balance in reproduction is inhumane, and we will not support such measures. Men must be allowed to carry out their responsibilities without interference.
Men must be allowed to give the women joy and keep us happy!
Men have to do their duty always, do not rob them off that!”
