We describe new mandibular and dental material of Propalaeoryx stromeri from Langental (early Miocene, Sperrgebiet, Namibia), and re-describe the cranial anatomy of this genus of African giraffomorphs. The occipital and nuchal anatomy of the two Propalaeoryx species are described and emended differential diagnoses are presented. Several cranial and postcranial characters are crucial for understanding the position of Propalaeoryx as a basal member of the Palaeomerycoidea within the Giraffomorpha. We define the clade Palaeomerycoidea as the least inclusive clade of giraffomorphs containing Triceromeryx and Propalaeoryx. Finally, the phylogenetic position of Propalaeoryx unveils a putative early African-Eurasian vicariance event among basal palaeomerycoids that probably took place around the Oligo-Miocene boundary, a time when other ruminant lineages were also splitting. Keywords: Ruminants, Early Miocene, Namibia, Sperrgebiet, Evolution, Phylogeny.