Namibian President Hage Geingob, anti-apartheid activist turned statesman, dies at age 82

Hage Geingob, President of Namibia, thought of one in all Africa’s most regular democracies, died Sunday whereas receiving medical treatment at a neighborhood hospital, his office launched.

The Namibian presidency talked about Geingob’s medical workers at Lady Pohamba Hospital did its biggest to help him, nonetheless he died collectively along with his partner, Monica Geingos, and children by his aspect, in a publish on X, beforehand Twitter,

Angolo Mbumba, Namibia’s performing president, known as for calm, saying within the equivalent publish that the “Cabinet will convene with fast impression in order to make the necessary state preparations on this regard.”

Native media reported Mbumba has known as for an urgent cabinet meeting.

Primarily based on Namibia’s construction, there should be an election to resolve on a model new president inside 90 days of Geingob’s demise. 

Geingob was current course of treatment for many cancers. The 82-year-old had a colonoscopy and a gastroscopy on Jan. 8, adopted by a biopsy, his office talked about closing month.  

He returned dwelling on Jan. 31 from the USA the place he had undergone a trial two-day “novel treatment for cancerous cells,” in line with his office. In 2014, he talked about he had survived prostate most cancers.

Geingob, president of the southern African nation since 2015, was set to finish his second and shutting time interval in office this yr. He was the nation’s third president as a result of it gained independence in 1990, following better than a century of German after which apartheid South African rule.

After spending virtually three a few years in exile in neighboring Botswana and the U.S. as an anti-apartheid activist, Geingob returned to Namibia as its first prime minister from 1990 to 2002. He moreover served within the equivalent functionality from 2008 to 2012.

Comfy-spoken nonetheless company on advancing Africa’s agenda as a necessary stakeholder in world affairs, Geingob maintained shut relations with the U.S. and totally different Western worldwide places.

Nonetheless, like many African leaders, he moreover strong a warmth relationship with China, refuting claims that Beijing is aggressively asserting monetary have an effect on over worldwide places in Africa as a sort of colonialism.

Namibia, which is on the southwestern coast of Africa, enjoys political and monetary stability in a space ravaged by disputes, violent elections and coups. Nonetheless, the nation’s opposition slammed Geingob closing yr for endorsing disputed elections in Zimbabwe.

Condolences from quite a few African leaders poured in on Sunday.

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa posted on X, saying Geingob’s “administration and resilience will seemingly be remembered.”

Cyril Ramaphosa, president of neighboring South Africa and thought of one in all Namibia’s largest shopping for and promoting companions, described him as a ” shut affiliate in our democratic dispensation” and “a towering veteran of Namibia’s liberation from colonialism and apartheid.”

Kenya’s Prime Minister William Ruto talked about Geingob was a “distinguished chief who served the people of Namibia with focus and dedication” and “strongly promoted the continent’s voice and visibility on the worldwide space.”

In an announcement, Russian President Vladimir Putin talked about he would “perpetually cherish” his recollections of meeting Geingob. “It’s powerful to overestimate his non-public contribution to rising nice relations between Namibia and Russia.”

Namibia, a country of merely over 2.5 million people, is rich in minerals resembling diamonds, gold and uranium. No matter being labeled as an upper-middle-income nation, socioeconomic inequalities are nonetheless widespread, in line with the World Monetary establishment.

Namibians have been anticipated to maneuver to the ballots in November to resolve on a model new chief.