Haji Geingob died weeks after being diagnosed with cancer (Reuters)

Namibian President Haji Geingob died early today, Sunday, at the age of 82, in a hospital in Windhoek, where he was being treated for cancer, the presidency announced in a message on the X platform.

The letter, signed by the country's interim president, Nangolo Mbumba, who was serving as vice president, said: "It is with great sadness and regret that I inform you that Haji Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia, died today at Lady Pohamba Hospital, where he was being treated."

The statement stated that Geingob, who had been President of Namibia since 2014, was surrounded by his wife and children when he passed away at Lady Bohamna Hospital in the capital.

The presidency announced last January that a routine medical examination revealed the presence of “cancer cells” in the head of state, and stated that he would undergo “appropriate treatment,” while maintaining his presidential duties.

Geingob had health problems before coming to power. In 2013, he underwent brain surgery.

In 2014, Geingob, while serving as Prime Minister, announced that he had recovered from prostate cancer. He became president of the country the following year.

Namibia is scheduled to hold presidential and parliamentary elections at the end of the year.

Support Gaza

Before his death, Geingob announced his country's refusal to support Germany's position in the International Court of Justice, where it faces charges of genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The Namibian presidency - in a statement on the X website - expressed its deep concern about the “shocking decision” issued by Germany two days ago, in which it rejected the moral indictment submitted by South Africa before the International Court of Justice against Israel.

Namibia referred to what it described as "the first genocide" in the 20th century, which was committed by Germany on Namibian soil between 1904 and 1908, and "ten of thousands of innocent Namibians were killed in inhumane and brutal conditions."

She said that the German government has not yet fully atoned for the genocide it committed on Namibian soil.

Windhoek criticized Berlin's ignoring of the violent strikes that killed more than 23,000 Palestinians in Gaza. It also ignored various United Nations reports that highlight the internal displacement of about 85% of civilians in Gaza amid a severe shortage of food and basic services.

Source: Agencies