African leaders mourn passing of Namibia President Hage Geingob
African leaders, in a show of solidarity, have joined the people of Namibia to mourn the passing of sitting president Hage Geingob who succumbed to his illness on February 4 at the Lady Pohamba Hospital.
Aged 82, Geingob passed away after a long battle with cancer in the company of his wife and children, The Star reports.
In a series of social media posts, African leaders, particularly the Tanzanian President, Suluhu Samia, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Kenya’s William Ruto, and several others, expressed their heartfelt condolences to the family and people of Namibia.
On behalf of the South African people, President Ramaphosa said, “Today, South Africa joins the people of our sister state, Namibia, in mourning the passing of a leader, patriot, and friend of South Africa. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Geingob family and the people of Namibia, who have lost an outstanding leader in a year in which Namibia, like South Africa, is due to hold elections. I am deeply saddened at this time as I reflect on the privilege I had as recently as October 2023 to be hosted by President Geingob, Madame Geingob, and the Cabinet on a Working Visit to Namibia.”
President Samia wrote in a post on X that “On behalf of the people of the United Republic of Tanzania, I send my condolences to the people of the Republic of Namibia, the Acting President, His Excellency Dr.Pan-Africanist Nangolo Mbumba, Madam First Lady, Her Excellency Monica Kalondo, family, friends, and comrades in SWAPO.”
President Bola Tinubu, on behalf of the Nigerian people, wrote, amongst others, "I mourn the painful loss of a veteran in the struggle for democracy, a proponent of good governance, and an advocate for economic, social, and political solidarity among African peoples. This tragedy comes at a time when Africa is in dire need of more visionary leaders who believe in our common destiny and who can strengthen the bonds across our borders and spread the tendrils of cooperation in all fields of human endeavour."
Kenya’s Ruto had similar sentiments to share about the late Geingob who was a believer in a unified Africa.” His post read, “President Geingob was a distinguished leader who served the people of Namibia with focus and dedication. He was a believer in a unified Africa and strongly promoted the continent’s voice and visibility in the global arena. May God give the people of Namibia strength and courage during this difficult period.”
"His legacy as a beacon of the liberation struggle and architect of Namibia's constitution will forever echo in the hearts of his people and across Africa. May His Soul Rest in Eternal Peace,” Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga shared on X.
The Speaker of the Kenyan Senate, Amason Kingi, also, in an X post, mourned the passing of the “illustrious son of Africa.”
As the Parliament of Kenya, we join the people of Namibia in mourning their President H.E. Hage Geingob, who passed on earlier today. As an illustrious son of Africa, President Geingob's demise is a big loss for the entire continent. I condole with the First Family at this most difficult moment and pray for God's fortitude upon it and the entire nation of Namibia. May his soul rest in perfect peace,” his post read.
