Namibia’s President and founding Prime Minister Haig Geingob has died on the age of 82 whereas receiving therapy for most cancers, and the southern African nation rapidly swore in his deputy to finish his time period in workplace.
Geingob performed a central position in what grew to become one in all Africa’s most secure democracies after getting back from lengthy exile in Botswana and the US as an anti-apartheid activist.
He was the nation’s third president because it gained independence in 1990 after greater than a century of German rule after which apartheid rule in South Africa.
He has been president since 2015 and is ready to complete his second and last time period this 12 months. His deputy, Vice President Nangolo Mbumba, was sworn in as performing president within the capital, Windhoek, to finish his time period as permitted by the structure.
Elections are scheduled to be held in November. A authorities assertion mentioned Mbumba will lead Namibia till March 21 subsequent 12 months when the winner takes workplace.
The presidential workplace mentioned Geingob died in a neighborhood hospital on Sunday together with his household by his aspect. He returned to Namibia final month from the US, the place he underwent a two-day trial of a “new therapy for most cancers cells,” in response to his workplace. In 2014, he mentioned he had survived prostate most cancers.
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Tender-spoken however agency in selling Africa’s agenda as an vital stakeholder in world affairs — he as soon as mentioned in a speech on the United Nations: “It’s an injustice to exclude Africa from the Safety Council” — Geingob has maintained shut ties with the US and different Western nations. But in addition, like many African leaders, they’ve constructed a heat relationship with China and different powers.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was among the many leaders who despatched their condolences on Sunday, saying he would “endlessly cherish” the reminiscences of assembly Geingob.
“It’s troublesome to overestimate his private contribution to the event of pleasant relations between Namibia and Russia,” an announcement mentioned.
Geingob hosted US First Woman Jill Biden final 12 months throughout her go to forward of an anticipated journey for her husband to Africa in 2023. However that didn’t occur.
Namibia, with a inhabitants of simply over 2.5 million, is wealthy in minerals corresponding to diamonds, gold and uranium. Though it’s categorized as an higher middle-income nation, social and financial inequality stays widespread, in response to the World Financial institution.
The nation on Africa’s southwest coast enjoys political and financial stability in a area that has lengthy seen battle and disputed elections.