Constitution of the Republic of Namibia
26
Status: in_forceRetrieved: 2026-08-18T06:43:52.362620+00:00Release: constitutions-global-20260821-v2
Article 26 State of Emergency, State of National Defence and Martial Law
(1) At a time of national disaster or during a state of national defence or public
emergency threatening the life of the nation or the constitutional order, the
President may by Proclamation in the Gazette declare that a state of emergency
exists in Namibia or any part thereof.
(2) A declaration under Sub-Article (1) hereof, if not sooner revoked, shall cease
to have effect:
(a) in the case of a declaration made when the National Assembly is
sitting or has been summoned to meet, at the expiration of a period of
seven (7) days after publication of the declaration; or
(b) in any other case; at the expiration of a period of thirty (30) days
after publication of the declaration unless before the expiration of that
period, it is approved by a resolution passed by the National Assembly
by a two-thirds majority of all its members. Subject to the provisions
of Sub-Article (4) hereof, a declaration approved by a resolution of
the National Assembly under Sub-Article (2) hereof shall continue to
be in force until the expiration of a period of six (6) months after
being so approved or until such earlier date as may be specified in
the resolution: provided that the National Assembly may, by resolution
by a two-thirds majority of all its members, extend its approval of the
declaration for periods of not more than six (6) months at a time. The
National Assembly may by resolution at any time revoke a declaration
approved by it in terms of this Article.
(3) During a state of emergency in terms of this Article or when a state of national
defence prevails, the President shall have the power by Proclamation to make
such regulations as in his or her opinion are necessary for the protection of
national security, public safety and the maintenance of law and order.
(4) The powers of the President to make such regulations shall include the power
to suspend the operation of any rule of the common law or statute or any
fundamental right or freedom protected by this Constitution, for such period
and subject to such conditions as are reasonably justifiable for the purpose of
dealing with the situation which has given rise to the emergency: provided
that nothing in this Sub-Article shall enable the President to act contrary to
the provisions of Article 24 hereof.
(5) Where any regulation made under Sub-Article (b) hereof provides for detention
without trial, provision shall also be made for an Advisory Board, to be
appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Judicial Service
Commission, and consisting of no more than five (5) persons, of whom no
fewer than three (3) persons shall be Judges of the Supreme Court or the
High Court or qualified to be such. The Advisory Board shall perform the
function set out in Article 24(2)(c) hereof.
(6) Any regulations made by the President pursuant to the provisions of Sub-
Article (5) hereof shall cease to have legal force if they have not been
approved by a resolution of the National Assembly within fourteen (14) days
from the date when the National Assembly first sits in session after the date
of the commencement of any such regulations.
(7) The President shall have the power to proclaim or terminate martial law.
Martial law may be proclaimed only when a state of national defence involving
another country exists or when civil war prevails in Namibia: provided that
any proclamation of martial law shall cease to be valid if it is not approved
within a reasonable time by a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of
all the members of the National Assembly.
The President
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