Namibia’s founding president and independence hero, Sam Nujoma, has passed away at the age of 95, the country’s current leader, President Nangolo Mbumba, has announced.
Nujoma, who played a pivotal role in Namibia’s liberation struggle against South African rule, died in the capital, Windhoek, after weeks of hospitalization due to an illness from which he “could not recover,” according to the official statement.
Nujoma was instrumental in the fight for Namibia’s independence, co-founding the South West African People’s Organisation in the 1960s.
The movement eventually led Namibia to independence in 1990, making him the country’s first president—a position he held until 2005.
In his tribute, President Mbumba described Nujoma as a leader who “inspired us to rise to our feet and to become masters of this vast land of our ancestors.” He further praised him for his “long and consequential life” dedicated to the service of his people.
Even after stepping down as president in 2005, Nujoma remained at the forefront of Namibian politics, leading SWAPO until he relinquished the party’s leadership in 2007 after nearly five decades.
His passing marks the end of an era for Namibia, as the country mourns the loss of a leader whose contributions shaped its history. The government is expected to announce funeral arrangements in the coming days, as tributes pour in from across the continent.
