Namibia’s President Geingob dies at the age of 82

He remained in office until the end – despite recently being diagnosed with cancer. Now the 82-year-old president of Namibia has died. Geingob is considered the co-founder of independent Namibia

“Namibia has lost an outstanding servant of the people, an icon of the liberation struggle and the main architect of its constitution,” said a statement from the Namibian presidency.

Shortly after midnight, Head of State Hage Geingob died in a hospital in the capital Windhoek surrounded by his family. Just last month, the 82-year-old made it public that he had cancer.

First prime minister Namibia

Geingob was a co-founder of independent Namibia. When the country was under the administration of the racist apartheid regime in South Africa, he joined the resistance movement SWAPO and became one of its leading figures while in exile in Botswana and the USA.

After independence in 1990, Geingob was Namibia’s first prime minister and played a leading role in shaping the country’s new constitution. In 2014 he was elected president with a large majority and confirmed in office five years later.

Vice President takes office for the time being

Recently, however, Geingob’s public reputation had suffered. The hoped-for progress in the fight against unemployment and the economic crisis did not materialize. There were also allegations of corruption in connection with the awarding of lucrative fishing rights to an Icelandic company.

Parliamentary and presidential elections are scheduled for November in Namibia. Until then, the current vice president, Nangolo Mbumba, will take over the official duties as head of state. He called on citizens to remain calm. The government will immediately take all necessary precautions.