(Windhoek) Namibian President Hage Geingob died early Sunday at the age of 82 at the hospital in Windhoek where he was being treated after the discovery of cancer cells, the presidency announced in a message published on the network social
“It is with the greatest sadness and regret that I inform you that our beloved Dr. Hage G. Geingob, the President of the Republic of Namibia, passed away today,” said a statement signed by the new interim head of state, Nangolo Mbumba, who was until then vice-president.
Mr. Geingob, who had been president of Namibia since 2014, was surrounded by his wife and children when he died at Lady Pohamna Hospital in the capital, the statement said.
Last month, the presidency announced that a routine medical check-up had revealed the presence of “cancer cells” in the head of state and specified that he would undergo “appropriate treatment”, while retaining his functions.
Hage Geingob had already suffered health problems, including before coming to power. In 2013, he had brain surgery. Last year, he had an aortic operation in South Africa, a neighboring country to Namibia.
Elected in 2014 then re-elected at the end of 2019, Mr. Geingob had previously been prime minister for 12 years, a record for longevity in Namibia, a semi-desert country in southern Africa which was one of the last states on the continent to access the independence in 1990.