Politician named Adolf Hitler Uunona wins election in Namibia

A Namibian candidate named Adolf Hitler Uunona won a regional election in the nation’s northern Oshana region by a commanding margin.

Uunona denied any ideological common ground with the Nazi chancellor, telling the German newspaper Bild, “That I have this name doesn’t mean that I want to subjugate Oshana now — it doesn’t mean that I’m striving for world domination!”

Uunona told the newspaper his father had named him after the historical figure, and that he doubted he had been aware of his notoriety.

RESULTS: Uunona Adolf Hitler of the SWAPO party is the duly elected councilor of the Ompundja Constituency.#NamVotes2020 #NamibiaVotes2020 #EagleFM pic.twitter.com/6ZQqaNctZx

— Eagle FM Namibia (@EagleFMNam) November 26, 2020

“It was a completely normal name for me as a child. It wasn’t until I was growing up that I realized: This man wanted to subjugate the whole world. I have nothing to do with any of these things,” he said.

Namibia was formerly a German colony and traditionally German names are common in the country, but it was under South African control during World War II.

While its official language is English, German is among the most common languages spoken there and numerous places derive their names from corresponding German localities such as Lüderitz, Mariental, Helmeringhausen.

Uunona added that he typically leaves out his middle name in public appearances but that it was too late to legally change his name because it’s “on all official documents.”