Namibia’s first president and a key figure in the country’s fight for independence, Sam Nujoma, has died at the age of 95. His passing was announced by current President Nangolo Mbumba on Sunday, after Nujoma succumbed to illness in a Windhoek hospital on Saturday night ¹.
Nujoma was a charismatic leader who played a crucial role in Namibia’s transition to democracy and stability after years of colonial rule by Germany and a brutal war of independence from South Africa. He served as Namibia’s first president from 1990 to 2005 and was revered by many as the “father of the nation.”
As a freedom fighter, Nujoma was part of a generation of African leaders who fought against colonial and white minority rule. He was a contemporary of notable leaders like Nelson Mandela, Robert Mugabe, Kenneth Kaunda, and Samora Machel.
Nujoma’s legacy extends beyond his leadership in the independence movement. He is also credited with promoting national healing and reconciliation in Namibia after the independence war.
