Sam Nujoma, the founding president of Namibia who steered his nation to independence from South African rule, died at age 95 in Windhoek. President Nangolo Mbumba announced his death, noting that Nujoma had spent three weeks in hospital with an illness from which he did not recover.
As a pivotal figure in Namibian history, Nujoma established the South West Peoples' Organisation in the 1960s, leading the liberation struggle against South African control. His efforts culminated in Namibian independence in 1990, when he became the country's first president, serving until 2005.
"He inspired us to rise to our feet and to become masters of this vast land of our ancestors," President Mbumba said in his statement. He praised Nujoma as the nation's founding father who "lived a long and consequential life" dedicated to serving his beloved country.
After stepping down from the presidency in 2005, Nujoma maintained his leadership of SWAPO for two additional years, marking the end of his 47-year tenure as the party's president in 2007. His legacy stands as a testament to Namibia's journey from colonial rule to sovereign nationhood.
As a pivotal figure in Namibian history, Nujoma established the South West Peoples' Organisation in the 1960s, leading the liberation struggle against South African control. His efforts culminated in Namibian independence in 1990, when he became the country's first president, serving until 2005.
"He inspired us to rise to our feet and to become masters of this vast land of our ancestors," President Mbumba said in his statement. He praised Nujoma as the nation's founding father who "lived a long and consequential life" dedicated to serving his beloved country.
After stepping down from the presidency in 2005, Nujoma maintained his leadership of SWAPO for two additional years, marking the end of his 47-year tenure as the party's president in 2007. His legacy stands as a testament to Namibia's journey from colonial rule to sovereign nationhood.
