Hage Geingob, Namibia‘s president, has died at the age of 82.
Geingob died at Lady Pohamba Hospital in Windhoek, Namibia’s capital, according to acting President Nangolo Mbumba’s statement.
Geingob announced in January that he had been diagnosed with cancer.
Mbumba states:
“The Namibian nation has lost a distinguished servant of the people, a liberation struggle icon, the chief architect of our constitution and the pillar of the Namibian house.”
“At this moment of deepest sorrow, I appeal to the nation to remain calm and collected while the Government attends to all necessary state arrangements, preparations and other protocols.”
Geingob returned from a trip to the United States last Wednesday after a two-day medical trial.
He became president in 2015 and was re-elected in 2019 for a second and final five-year term.
Geingob, a teacher by training, served as Namibia’s first prime minister from 1990 to 2002 and 2012 to 2015.
From 2008 to 2012, he served as the Minister of Trade and Industry.