Namibia is in mourning following the passing of President Hage Geingob at the age of 82. The announcement came in a government statement, revealing that the distinguished leader succumbed to cancer while receiving medical treatment. President Geingob took his last breath just past midnight on Sunday, February 4, 2024, at Lady Pohamba Hospital in Windhoek, Namibia’s capital.

Surrounded by his loving wife, Monica Geingos, and children, President Geingob’s final moments were marked by the presence of his family. The government statement described him as a “distinguished servant of the people, a liberation struggle icon, the chief architect of our constitution, and the pillar of the Namibian house.”

The President’s demise occurred three days after his return from a medical trip to the United States, where he underwent experimental treatment for cancerous cells. President Geingob had pledged to introduce the technology in Namibia pending final approvals. The revelation of cancerous cells followed biopsy exams on January 19, prompting the President to seek medical attention.

President Hage Geingob, who assumed office in 2015, had a remarkable political career, serving as Namibia’s first Prime Minister from 1990 to 2002 and later holding the position again between 2012 and 2015. He also served as the Minister of Trade and Industry from 2008 to 2012.

The nation is urged to remain calm and collected during this period of grief as the government attends to necessary state arrangements, preparations, and other protocols in honor of President Hage Geingob’s legacy.