Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the “Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis,” Namibia’s highest civilian honour, during a ceremony in Windhoek on 9 July 2025. Namibian President Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah presented the decoration, invoking constitutional powers to recognise what she described as Modi’s “exceptional leadership and service.” Instituted in 1995 and named after the resilient desert plant native to Namibia and Angola, the award is bestowed for outstanding contributions to the nation and global cooperation. Modi is the first Indian leader to receive it; the accolade is his 27th international honour since 2014 and the fourth on his current five-nation tour, which included Brazil where he accepted the Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross a day earlier. In his acceptance remarks, Modi dedicated the distinction to the people of India and to the long-standing friendship between New Delhi and Windhoek. Earlier in the day he met President Nandi-Ndaitwah for bilateral talks, after which the two governments signed four agreements aimed at deepening collaboration in energy, healthcare, digital technology and defence, and explored opportunities in critical minerals. Modi also addressed the Namibian Parliament during what is the first official visit by an Indian prime minister to the country.