Sam Nujoma, Namibia’s founding president and a key figure in the country’s independence struggle, has passed away at the age of 95, the Namibian Presidency announced on Sunday. Nujoma, who served as president from 1990 to 2005, was widely recognized for his role in leading Namibia to freedom from apartheid South Africa.
A Freedom Fighter
Born in 1929, Nujoma rose from humble beginnings to become a guerrilla leader and activist. He played a pivotal role in the formation of SWAPO, the liberation movement that led Namibia’s independence efforts. After years of armed resistance and international advocacy, he became the country’s first democratically elected president on March 21, 1990. In 2005, he was officially honored as the “Founding Father of the Namibian Nation.”
Throughout his presidency, Nujoma focused on national reconciliation, democratic governance, and economic development. However, he also faced criticism for his intolerance of press freedom and a 1998 constitutional amendment that allowed him to serve a third term. Despite this, he remained a respected leader, both domestically and internationally, and was a close ally of Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe.
“One Namibia, One Nation”
African leaders, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, paid tribute to Nujoma, describing him as an “extraordinary freedom fighter” and a “symbol of courage.” His legacy includes uniting a nation scarred by colonialism and apartheid under the motto “One Namibia, One Nation.”
Nujoma had been receiving medical treatment for the past three weeks before his passing. His contributions to Namibia’s independence and his leadership as its first president remain a significant part of the country’s history.