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First president of Namibia dies aged 95

Sam Nujoma was a co-founder of Swapo when it was formed as a liberation movement in 1960

09 February 2025 09:01 (UTC +04:00)

The first president of independent Namibia, Sam Nujoma, has died at the age of 95 in the capital Windhoek, the country's current leader has announced, APA reports citing BBC.

Nujoma led the long fight for independence from South Africa in 1990 after helping found Namibia's liberation movement known as the South West Peoples' Organisation (Swapo) in the 1960s.

Nujoma had been hospitalised over the past three weeks with an illness from which he "could not recover", Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba said in a statement announcing the death with "utmost sorrow and sadness".

He "inspired us to rise to our feet and to become masters of this vast land of our ancestors," President Mbumba said.

He added: "Our founding father lived a long and consequential life during which he exceptionally served the people of his beloved country."

Nujoma retired as head of state in 2005, but continued to lead the party before stepping down in 2007 as president of the ruling Swapo party after 47 years at the helm.

Who is Sam Nujoma

Sam Nujoma is a prominent Namibian politician and independence leader who served as the first President of Namibia from 1990 to 2005. He played a key role in the country’s struggle for independence from South Africa, particularly through his leadership of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), which was the main liberation movement fighting for Namibia's freedom.

Born on May 12, 1929, in what was then South West Africa (now Namibia), Nujoma became involved in anti-colonial activism in his youth and later became the face of Namibia's liberation struggle. He was a key figure in the formation of SWAPO in the 1960s, and his leadership helped push for the country’s independence, which was finally achieved on March 21, 1990.

As Namibia's first President, Nujoma helped steer the country through its early years of independence, focusing on nation-building, economic development, and promoting national unity. He was re-elected for two additional terms, stepping down in 2005 after serving three terms in office.

Nujoma remains a highly respected figure in Namibia, revered for his role in the liberation movement and as a founding father of the modern Namibian state.