United Nations Commissioner for Namibia
Background
Background
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After [World War I](/wiki/World_War_I "World War I"), South Africa was given a [League of Nations mandate](/wiki/League_of_Nations_mandate "League of Nations mandate") to administer South West Africa. Following [World War II](/wiki/World_War_II "World War II") and the introduction of [apartheid](/wiki/Apartheid "Apartheid"), South Africa's mandate was revoked by UNGA in October 1966\.UN General Assembly resolution 2145 (XXI) revoked South Africa's mandate In May 1967, during its fifth session, UNGA established the United Nations Council for South West Africa "to administer South West Africa until independence, with the maximum possible participation of the people of the territory". In 1968, it adopted the name "[Namibia](/wiki/Namibia "Namibia")" for the territory. The [United Nations Security Council](/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council "United Nations Security Council") endorsed UNGA's actions by adopting resolutions [264](/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council_Resolution_264 "United Nations Security Council Resolution 264") and [269](/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council_Resolution_269 "United Nations Security Council Resolution 269") of 1969\.[Text of UNSCRs 264 of 1969](https://www.un.org/documents/sc/res/1969/scres69.htm) 

UNSCR [276](/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council_Resolution_276 "United Nations Security Council Resolution 276") of 1970 confirmed the illegality of South Africa's presence in the territory.[Text of UNSCR 276 of 1970](https://www.un.org/documents/sc/res/1970/scres70.htm)  The same year, the Security Council decided to request an Advisory Opinion of the [International Court of Justice](/wiki/International_Court_of_Justice "International Court of Justice") (ICJ) as to the legal consequences for Member States of South Africa's continued presence in Namibia notwithstanding UNSCR 276 of 1970\. The following year the ICJ's Advisory Opinion confirmed UNGA's revocation of the mandate and declared that South Africa must withdraw its administration and end its occupation and that Member States were under an obligation to refrain from any support or assistance to South Africa in Namibia.


Why did the UN Security Council decide to request an Advisory Opinion from the ICJ?