Why does Namibia receive so little rainfall along its coast?

Namibia's coast receives very little rainfall primarily due to the influence of the cold Benguela Current, which flows northward along the Atlantic coast.12

This current chills the air directly above the ocean, creating a stable temperature inversion where cool, moist air is trapped beneath a layer of hot, dry air. While this process frequently produces fog and low-level clouds, it inhibits the vertical atmospheric movement necessary to generate significant rainfall. Additionally, the region is influenced by subtropical high-pressure systems that cause descending, dry air, further suppressing precipitation. As a result, the coastal area is almost entirely rainless, with average annual precipitation often measuring less than 0.5 inches (13 mm).23