Namibia’s President Hage Geingob has passed away at the age of 82 while undergoing medical treatment at a hospital in the capital, Windhoek. A veteran of Namibia’s independence struggle, Geingob had publicly disclosed his battle with cancer last month. He died on Sunday with his family by his side, as announced by Vice-President Nangolo Mbumba.
Geingob, who first assumed the presidency in 2015, had been in prominent political roles since Namibia gained independence in 1990. Following the constitutional procedures, Vice-President Mbumba will now act as president since there was less than a year remaining in Geingob’s second term. Presidential and parliamentary elections were already scheduled for November.
The exact cause of Geingob’s death was not disclosed, but he had recently undergone a two-day treatment for cancerous cells in the United States before returning home on January 31.
The president’s passing has prompted tributes on Namibian radio, where people have fondly remembered him as a visionary and affable figure with a good sense of humor. Leaders worldwide have been expressing condolences and acknowledging Geingob’s significant contributions to securing Namibia’s freedom.